Dahod (Gujarat), Jan 20 (IANS) Visiting Gujarat that is expected to go to assembly polls this year, Congress president Sonia Gandhi Saturday targeted Chief Minister Narendra Modi for "worsening" law and order situation in the state.

"Gujarat has always been a region full of peace and prosperity. I will not comment on what happened in the state a few years ago. But now the crime rates have increased considerably, specially against women," Gandhi said,

She was addressing an Adivasi Mahasammelan or tribal gathering in Devgarh Baria town of Dahod district, about 140 km from the state's main city of Ahmedabad.

Alluding to the sectarian strife of 2002 in the state that claimed at least 1,000 lives, she said: "Communal elements can never become a national force.

"They call themselves nationalists but are actually opportunists. Such elements cannot benefit either the nation or the tribals," she said referring to the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

She also blamed the Modi government for "slow" implementation of various central government schemes meant for welfare of tribal, Dalit and weaker sections of the society.

"Huge funds have been allocated to Gujarat under various Central government schemes. But they are not being utilised properly," Gandhi said.

Addressing a gathering of party workers and tribal youths at the concluding session of a five-day workshop, Gandhi asked Congress activists to make effective use of the Right to Information Act (RTI) Act to keep track of the implementation of the central government schemes in Gujarat.

"Congress workers across the state should use the Right to Information Act effectively to know whether the money given to the state government is being properly used or not," she said.