New Delhi, July 17 : Accusing the BJP-led Central government of trying to create a divide among Hindus and Muslims ahead of 2019 elections to polarise the society, the Congress on Monday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has become blind like Mahabharata character "Dhritarashtra" in his pursuit of power.

The party also compared the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) with another Mahabharata character, Duryodhan, and said it is disrobing social harmony and brotherhood.

"Modi government is trying to create a divide among Hindus and Muslims in order to polarise the society ahead of elections, which reflects the unhealthy mindset of its ministers and the Prime Minister," said Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala.

"Sensing defeat in 2019 general elections, Prime Minister Modi has become blind like Dhritarashtra due to his lust for power. By spreading hatred and pursuing divisive politics, he is aiming to win the election," he added.

He said: "BJP's sole aim is to grab power. Power-hungry BJP is playing the role of Duryodhan.

"But Modiji should understand that Godse's ideology can never defeat Gandhi's ideology. He asks about Congress' religion. Our religion is Indianess. Congress has represented every citizen, every religion, caste, language, customs and region," said Surjewala.

The Congress leader said the BJP is the new version of East India Company. "Divide and rule was then their principle, divide the society is now BJP's principle."

Referring to the collapse of part of a canopy at PM's rally in West Bengal's Midnapore town on Monday, in which over 25 persons were injured, Surjewala said: "Although a canopy collapsed in Prime Minister's rally and people were injured, a power-hungry Modiji continued his speech."

"Gujarat, Assam and Maharashtra are badly affected by floods, but he is busy with rallies," he added.

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Guwahati(PTI): Union Minister H D Kumaraswamy on Monday said he would soon visit tea gardens, owned by public sector enterprise Andrew Yule, to revive its estates as workers are facing immense hardship.

Kumaraswamy, the minister of steel and heavy industries, thanked Assam Industries Minister Bimal Borah for apprising him of various challenges being faced by the tea gardens and the need to support the management to alleviate suffering of workers.

"We are concerned about the economic challenges and hardship of the tea gardens owned by Andrew Yule Group in Assam and its impact on the wage earners," Kumaraswamy said at a press conference here.

The tea garden wage earners will also get a 20 per cent Durga Puja bonus, like workers of other gardens, he said.

Referring to his recent visit to the Cement Corporation of India Ltd factory at Bokajan in Karbi Anglong district, Kumaraswamy said there was a plan for the revival of the cement industry in the state by investing Rs 700 crore.

He also emphasised on the need for a cement manufacturing unit in the northeastern states.

On the current development of Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Electric Vehicles (FAME) policy utilisation in Assam, the union minister said more than Rs 2,000 crore would be invested for battery charging stations and nearly 70,000 such facilities will be set up across the country.

More than 18,000 e-buses will also be purchased to fulfil the goal of carbon emission reduction, Kumaraswamy added.