Kondagaon (Chhattisgarh), Nov 7 (IANS): In a harsh attack on the BJP regime in Chhattisgarh, Congress president Sonia Gandhi Thursday accused it of dividing people on communal lines.

"Except hollow assurances they have nothing to offer to the masses as they believe in misleading the people and dividing them on communal lines," Gandhi told a massive rally at Kondagon in Bastar region.

This, she said, was in total contrast to the Congress which she claimed always tried to unite the people.

Gandhi was speaking in an area known to be a stronghold of the Communist Party of India-Maoist.

Gandhi accused Chhattisgarh's Bharatiya Janata Party government of failing miserably even in effectively implementing the central government schemes.

"The persistent poverty among the masses in Chhattisgarh is the result of poor governance," she said.

"Even after getting huge assistance from the central government, the state is lacking in every sector be it health, education, industry, social welfare or safety and security of the people.

"If there is no safety or security system in place, there will hardly be any development."

Gandhi reminded the people that while the Congress history was replete with sacrifices, the BJP was credited with spoiling social amity.

"We (Congress) always unite people while they (BJP) believe in pitting one against another."

The Congress president said that out of the 13 years since Chhattisgarh was born, the BJP had ruled it for 10 years but failed to achieve the desired development due to inefficiency.

Taking a dig at the lack of security, Gandhi said that while the entire Congress leadership in the state was wiped out by Maoists in May, the BJP government termed it a mere security lapse.

Highlighting the achievements of the UPA government in New Delhi, she urged the masses to vote the Congress to power in Chhattisgarh, which will elect a new 90-member assembly Nov 11 and 19.