Bhilai, India., Nov. 25 - A day after the PM and his Deputy took on the Congress on corruption, Gujarat’s Narendra Modi invoked religion to stoke passions in Chhattisgarh, accusing Congress chief Sonia Gandhi of striking a ‘‘secret deal’’ with Christian missionaries to influence voters and results.

Modi backed Dilip Singh Judeo and slammed Sonia, aware that religion conversion is already an issue here.

He told a rally that Sonia, while she was in Mizoram, had entered into a pact with missionaries. ‘‘The nation wants to know from Sonia Gandhi the objective of her meeting with foreign missionaries,’’ he said, claiming he had ‘‘authentic information’’ about the meeting where, he alleged, a deal was struck for support to Congress in Mizoram and Chhattisgarh.

Painting a scenario where ‘‘foreign forces’’ could take advantage of elections to ‘‘destabilise’’ the country, Modi said: “What’s this deal before elections? Which are these forces trying to help Congress?”

He called Jogi ‘‘Shri 420’’ and wondered why Sonia was keeping mum: ‘‘This must be the only example of a CM, facing cases under Section 420 and chargesheeted by CBI, not being asked to resign. What is Sonia Gandhi’s compulsion?’’