Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati on Sunday launched a scathing attack on the BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi, warning the nation of communal riots if he came to power.

Addressing a rally in Chandigarh on Sunday, she called Modi a “divisive leader”, alleging that he presided over the Gujarat riots in 2002. She said the country would be gripped by riots and communal frenzy if he came to power at the Centre. The attack during the rally in support of the BSP candidate from Chandigarh came a day after Modi addressed a rally here.

Mayawati termed Modi’s talks on correcting the rot in the country as trying to create an illusion. “Why did his party-led government fail to set things right when the NDA ruled the country for six years? When we ask their leaders, they do not have an answer,” she said.