The BJP will ruin the essence of “Bharatiyata” and “Hindustaniyat”, Congress president Sonia Gandhi said on Monday, urging people to “chose the right path”.

In a video message posted on the Congress website, Sonia said India was at a “crossroads” in this election.

“What are these values that are the very heart and soul of our motherland? They are love and respect, harmony and brotherhood. In a word, non-violence,” Sonia said in the message in Hindi, which had a translated English text posted along.

“Living with these feelings for each other across religions, castes, communities, regions, languages is what makes us one strong nation. These have been the bedrock of our progress. These are the essence of our Bharatiyata, our Hindustaniyat,” she said.

“Today, our society stands at a crossroads. Their (BJP’s) vision, clouded with hatred and falsehood, their ideology, divisive and autocratic, will drive us to the ruination of our Bharatiyata, our Hindustaniyat,” she said.

Without naming him, Sonia took a dig at Bharatiya Janata Party’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi.

“It is this, the very heart and soul of India, that we are fighting to protect in this election, from those who seek to change it, and to divide us. We want unity. They want to impose uniformity. They say, just believe in me,” she added.