Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao on Thursday expressed concern that if religious intolerance and caste fanaticism and divisiveness continue to be stoked then the country may face an Afghanistan like situation in coming days. He urged the people to consider and debate the consequences.

The Chief Minister’s statement came in the wake of remarks made by Mohan Bhagwat on Muslims. Bhagwat has said that Muslims have nothing to fear but they must abandon their boisterous rhetoric of supremacy. His comments have been slammed by the CPI-M and AIMIM’s Asaduddin Owaisi and other Opposition parties.

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However, Rao did not name any individual or organisation but only warned people about the consequences of religious intolerance and caste fanaticism. He said that if society is to be developed it should be done in peace and with patience.

“If they continue with religious intolerance and divide people, it will turn the country into a hell. It will be like the Taliban and there will be an Afghanistan like situation in this country,” said the Chief Minister in Mahabubabad where he inaugurated an integrated collectorate complex. He warned particularly the youth to be cautious about the BJP’s tactics.

The Chief Minister blamed the Central government for its policies alleging that the state’s GSDP failed to increase because the Centre failed to perform at par with the state government.

“It is due to Centre’s inefficiency that Telangana lost Rs 3 lakh crore,” said Rao. He went on to add: “People should keep a vigil on the governments to ensure they function effectively.”

He pointed out that even after 20 years, the Krishna water sharing disputes between Riparian states remain pending only due to inefficiency of successive Central governments. He also inaugurated a similar integrated district office complex at Bhadradri Kothagudem district.