Priyanka Vadra campaigns for Imran Masood in UP's Saharanpur who had threatened PM Modi to chop into pieces

Saharanpur, April 18: Ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, Congress leader Priyanka Vadra campaigned for INDIA candidate from Saharanpur Imran Masood. He is the same Masood who hit the headlines in 2014 when he used the infamous “boti-boti” (Chop into pieces) comment for PM Narendra Modi.

It was her first roadshow in Uttar Pradesh for INDIA candidate, hours before the campaign came to an end. Criticising BJP, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Wednesday said the BJP "rulers" are not worshippers of satya (truth) or "Maa Shakti" but only of "satta (political power)”.

The 2-km-long roadshow covered Muslim-dominated areas. She appealed to a large number of people gathered there to have a glimpse of their favourite leader to help Masood win with a huge majority.

“The people in power are not worshippers of satya (truth) or Maa Shakti (Goddess Shakti) but only of satta (political power). For satta, they can go to any extent, they can topple govts, buy MLAs and give the country's assets to the rich,” she said.

Her remarks come in the backdrop of the BJP attacking the Congress over its leader Rahul Gandhi's “fight againt Shakti” remark and accusing the opposition party of insulting Sanatan Dharam. Targeting BJP, Congress leader claimed, “If there is no glitch in EVMs, these people are not going to win more than 180 seats”.

Out of nearly 19 lakh voters in Saharanpur, about 6.8 lakh are Muslims. The Saharanpur seat, is known for close contests and has oscillated between the SP, BJP, and BSP for the last two decades. Lakhanpal of the BJP won it in 2014, but in 2019, the BSP candidate won the seat with SP and RLD’s support. The reason was 7 lakh Muslim voters and 3.8 lakh Dalit voters along with some Jats converging for the opposition alliance here. Masood then finished third behind Lakhanpal. Now, the BSP is solo and has a new candidate in Majid Ali.