Chhattisgarh: If you felt the 5-state assembly elections have been lacking the usual dose of vitriol, Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath may soon change that.

Yogi went with guns blazing on Thursday while addressing a rally in Jashpur in Chattisgarh. In an apparent dig at UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, without naming her, he said, "Chhattisgarh has witnessed rampant conversion under the leadership of an Italian agent." 

The UP chief minister, a popular Hindutva face of BJP, took on the former Congress president alleging, "In Congress’s 3-year rule in Chhattisgarh, the anti-national activity of religious conversion was at its peak by agents of Italy. Dilip Singh Judeo (Late BJP MP) took this menace head on and stopped Jashpur from becoming another Bastar." 

He continued his tirade with a jibe saying, "The Hindu society offers milk even to snakes despite knowing that it might bite later."

He also furthered his Hindutva sentiments, saying, "Hindus never believe in a forced conversion like others. We need to establish a government that can establish a Ram Rajya in Chhattisgarh ."

In his signature style, the Yogi alleged that the Congress of playing a divisive role in the country and accused them of dividing the society on the basis of caste, region, religion and language.

Meanwhile, Congress claims not to be fazed by Yogi's remarks. The party's spokesperson said, "We have seen how BJP reacts. This is their way of engagement. Frankly, we aren't even surprised at the personal attack made by Yogi Adityanath. He hasn't done this for the first time".

The red zone of Chhattisgarh went to poll on November 12 and the remaining areas will go to polls on November 20. BJP is battling three terms of anti-incumbency in the state. But the Congress so far has not managed to project any major face in the run-up to the election.