Chitrakoot (MP)/IBNS/UNI: In a blitzkrieg against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra Thursday alleged that the saffron outfit is "grossly misusing" religion for electoral gain.

Addressing a rally at this renowned pilgrim destination in election-bound Madhya Pradesh’s Satna district, Priyanka said, “The BJP shows you some mirage-like dreams and speaks of your faith. My brothers and sisters, religion is a subject enshrined in every Indian heart. When any individual speaks of creed, our emotions are stirred. We forthwith view that person as a God-fearing human being who is speaking of safeguarding our religion, so our vote should go to him or her.”

Recalling a visit to Uttar Pradesh, Priyanka narrated that she asked rural women why they are voting again and yet again for a certain party despite a lack of electricity, paucity of water, pathetic roads, and their children having to trudge several kilometers to school.

“The women told me, ‘Didi (elder sister), their workers came to our dwellings, prayed with us and made us promise in the name of the Almighty.’ I explained to them that your vote should be cast in the name of work, development and progress. You have elevated leaders to the stature of deities and do not demand answerability,” she said.

Pointing out that the electorate chose the Congress in the previous Assembly polls, she added that "misuse| of money and muscle resulted in an insult of the mandate as the BJP “stole” the government.

Taking a dig at Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan for being at the helm of a “scam and corruption-ridden blind dispensation”, Priyanka said, “He says I am your Mama (maternal uncle). A relationship is sustained through fulfilment of duty. else even Kans (Kamsa) was a Mama.”