Hitting the campaign trail in poll-bound Karnataka to mobilise support for the BJP, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Thursday asked the people to reject what he called the “divisive” politics and “jihadi mindset” of the Congress.

At a rally here, he said, “Today the Congress government in Karnataka and its chief minister, who is playing the most corrupt innings, are making the worst effort to divide the society. Their divisive politics supports terrorism. I have come here to call upon you to outrightly reject the divisive politics of the Congress, the jihadi mindset, its policies of supporting terrorism and corruption.” Targeting Siddaramaiah, he claimed that “jihadis” killing 23 BJP workers in the state in the last five years was a “proof” of the Congress party’s alleged divisive politics. Seeking to draw a comparison between UP and Karnataka, Adityanath said no jihadi element can raise his ugly head in his state.

In Kalburagi, PM Modi accused the Congress of “insulting national heroes” and the Indian Army by “questioning” the veracity of the cross-border surgical strikes. He also said that Congress president Rahul Gandhi “disrespected the national song Vande Mataram. Invoking Sardar Patel, the prime minister said the independent India’s first home minister, was instrumental in forcing the Nizam of Hyderabad, who controlled the region where Kalaburagi is located, to accede to the country. “But one family in the Congress loses its sleep whenever Patel’s name crops up,” he said.

Hitting back, Congress chief Rahul Gandhi told a rally Aurad that Modi was not answering questions raised by him like those on the controversial Rafale fighter jet deal and fugitive Nirav Modi, and was instead launching personal attack on him. “Whenever Modi is afraid....I would tell you about Modi’s character....he launches a personal attack on a person. He will talk ill of a person, will talk wrong of a person. That is the difference between me and him,” Gandhi said. “I will not attack him personally however much insolent his attacks are. But I will ask questions. I am a soldier of the Congress not an RSS man who spreads hatred. He should answer my question how will be ensure that the farmers get minimum support price (MSP). How will he tackle unemployment? But he will not answer these questions. He speaks about me and Mallikarjun Kharge.”