Congress leaders indulging in propaganda on IMF's bailout to Pakistan, alleges Himanta

Guwahati: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday accused Congress leaders, like Jairam Ramesh and Pawan Khera, of indulging in propaganda on the International Monetary Fund's (IMF) bailout to Pakistan.

His allegation comes after India on Friday opposed the IMF’s proposal to extend fresh loans of $2.3 billion to Pakistan, saying that the funds could be misused for financing state-sponsored cross-border terrorism.

''Exposing the Misinformation: IMF, Pakistan, and India’s Principled Stand once again, Congress leaders like Jairam Ramesh and Pawan Khera are indulging in reckless propaganda-twisting facts and misleading the nation over India’s stand on the recent IMF bailout to Pakistan'," the chief minister posted on 'X'.

He claimed that the truth should be known and ''there is no 'NO' vote at IMF".

''Contrary to what Congress wants the public to believe, the IMF does not have a system for casting a 'no' vote. The only legitimate way to register disagreement is by abstaining, which India rightly did," he said.

The IMF Voting is weighted and not equal, he pointed out.

Sarma said the IMF functions on a "proportional quota system, where voting power is based on each nation’s financial contribution".

"It is not a one-country-one-vote format like the UN General Assembly. India’s abstention was a calibrated and strategic move within this framework," he said.

The Assam CM claimed that India’s message was ''loud and clear'' as by abstaining, India "refused to endorse financial assistance to a nation that continues to export terrorism across our borders".

"This was a firm yet mature diplomatic signal, showing India will not support Pakistan’s duplicity, but also will not disrupt global economic order rashly," Sarma said.

The CM alleged that the Congress is "playing dangerous politics".

''It is deeply unfortunate that leaders like Jairam Ramesh and Pawan Khera are politicising India’s international diplomacy. Whether out of ignorance or intent, their narrative undermines national interest and falsely portrays India as weak, when in truth, India acted with both resolve and responsibility," he claimed.

Sarma asserted that India’s record speaks for itself, claiming, "under Prime Minister Modi, India has shown the world that it will respond to terror with strength — be it Uri, Balakot, or Operation Sindoor." ''Our abstention at the IMF is a reflection of strategic statecraft, backed by clear-eyed national interest,'' Sarma added.

Ramesh had, in a post on 'X', said that the Congress had demanded on April 29 that India vote against the IMF loan to Pakistan, which was considered by its Executive Board on Friday, but India abstained from voting.

''The Modi government backed down. A strong 'NO' vote there would have sent a strong message," Ramesh said.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) cleared a USD 1 billion tranche for Pakistan as part of its USD 7 billion Extended Fund Facility (EFF) lending programme, and USD1.3 billion tranche under the Resilience and Sustainability Facility (RSF) in its board meeting held on Friday.

India abstained from voting in the meeting as it raised concerns over the efficacy of IMF programmes for Pakistan, given its “poor track record” and also on the possibility of “misuse of debt financing funds for state-sponsored cross-border terrorism”, an official release by the Union Ministry of Finance said.