Hubbali: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Thursday said the Congress government in the state was spending money for the upcoming elections and not using it to help farmers.

In Uttar Pradesh, farm loans taken from nationalised banks too had been waived, but the Congress government here was not willing to do so, he said. Adityanath was addressing a mammoth convention of BJP workers and admirers here.

“Congress is dividing the society on the basis of caste and religion, and it has no faith in development. People have to decide on supporting the party which promotes the worship of Lord Hanuman and Vijayanagar empire’s greatness, and not that of Tipu Sultan as is being done by the Congress,” he said.

Referring to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s statement about eating beef, murder of BJP and Hindu workers and farmers’ suicide in the state, Adityanath said the conspiracy to divide the society was no less than treason. The union government had granted a record amount of funds to the state, but the Congress government was not interested in utilising them for development.

“To join the path of development supported by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, vote for BJP in the forthcoming Assembly elections and do what people in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh did to the Congress,” he said.

In his speech, state BJP president Yeddyurappa expressed his commitment to get 7.56 tmc feet of water from the Mahadayi basin for drinking purpose, by ensuring follow-up of Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar’s letter before the tribunal. “Some people are trying to create confusion over this letter, with ill intentions,” he said.

He said the Congress was responsible for the Mahadayi dispute, as it raised objection to releasing water to Karnataka when it was in power at the Centre and in Goa.

“I am ready to give you in writing in my blood that we will spend Rs one lakh crore for irrigation projects in the state, if we come to power,” the former chief minister said.