Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday, January 12, strongly rejected Congress allegations regarding the state’s fiscal management, asserting that Assam is the best fiscally managed and fastest-growing state in the country—a claim he said is backed by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
Responding to criticism over Assam’s borrowing and financial health, Sarma said the Congress should instead reflect on the financial practices of Congress-ruled states. He pointed to Karnataka, alleging that the Congress-led government there has accumulated loans worth ₹92,000 crore, which he described as an unprecedented level of public borrowing.
Defending Assam’s financial discipline, the Chief Minister maintained that the state’s borrowings remain well within prescribed limits and are fully compliant with fiscal norms. He questioned the basis of repeated allegations against the Assam government, arguing that any claims of mismanagement were contradicted by RBI assessments.
“If we had done something wrong, would the Reserve Bank of India have given us a certificate?” Sarma asked, emphasising that Assam’s financial performance has been independently vetted by the country’s apex banking institution.
Sarma also criticised a section of the media for what he termed misleading narratives, contrasting them with RBI evaluations. He said the central bank has ranked Assam first in the country in terms of financial growth and development, while some media reports have portrayed the state as economically lagging.
Leaving the judgment to the public, the Chief Minister said people must decide whether greater credibility lies with RBI data or with media reports questioning Assam’s fiscal position. He reiterated that official data and institutional validation firmly support the state government’s claims of sound financial governance.
