Hyderabad, December 2: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Amit Shah on Sunday accused the Congress party of minority appeasement, saying that the grand old party promised free electricity only to mosques and churches and not to temples. Addressing a gathering at Mahbubnagar’s Narayanpet for the Telangana assembly elections, Shah further alleged that the ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) also indulges in minority appeasement.

Shah said the Congress promised an educational aid of Rs 20 lakh to the minority students if it comes to power in Telangana as part of its politics of minority appeasement. "The Congress speaks (in its manifesto) about reservations for the minorities in government contracts. It also talks about separate hospitals for the minorities. I want to ask (Congress president) Rahul Gandhi, what would be the fate of the poor people who do not belong to the minority communities,” he said. Asaduddin Owaisi Will be Forced to Leave Telangana if BJP Comes to Power: Yogi Adityanath.

The BJP chief also took on caretaker chief minister and TRS supremo K Chandrashekar Rao for advancing assembly polls in the state. "Telangana would have saved hundreds of crores of rupees had it opted for the Assembly polls along with the Lok Sabha election in May next year. KCR burdened the state with crores of rupees of election expenditure. Who is responsible for this? KCR was doubtful of his victory in May, fearing a (Prime Minister) Modi wave," he said. Telangana Assembly Elections 2018: Asaduddin Owaisi Says ‘Allah’ Will Defeat Narendra Modi and Rahul Gandhi in Polls.

"The chief minister promised a 12-per cent reservation for Muslims. The BJP and its cadre will ensure that a reservation based on religion will not be implemented in Telangana,” Shah vowed. Intensifying his attacks, Shah said KCR didn't celebrate Telangana's Liberation Day on September 17 due to fear of Asaduddin Owaisi-led All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM).

Telangana will go to polls on December 7, and counting of votes will take place on December 11. The 119-member assembly was dissolved on September 6 on the recommendation of the KCR-led TRS government, more than eight months ahead of the expiry of its term, paving the way for early elections.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Dec 02, 2018 08:11 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).