BRS president and Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao on Monday said the state would remain peace-loving and secular as long as he is alive. Rao, who addressed an election rally at Jukkal, said BRS would continue to follow the principles of 'Ganga-Jamuna Tehzeeb' (term used for fusion of Hindu-Muslim cultures in the country) for which Telangana is showcased as an example for others in the country.

"Telangana is a peace-loving, secular state. I assure you that as long as KCR is alive, Telangana will remain a peace-loving and secular state," he said.

BRS believes in taking all sections together, whether it is Hindu, Muslim or Christian, he said.

The progress of all is the progress of Telangana, he said.

Stepping up his attack on the Congress, Rao alleged that Congress delayed the formation of Telangana.

The Congress entered into an alliance with the BRS on the promise of forming Telangana (2004) and had the state been formed then, it would have made even better progress, he said.

The then UPA government had announced the formation of Telangana when he undertook an indefinite fast, Rao, also known as KCR, said.

Even after the announcement, Congress delayed it further and finally delivered on the promise in the wake of an agitation (in 2014), he alleged. Rao attacked Karnataka deputy chief minister D K Shivakumar over his alleged comments that his government is providing free power supply for five hours to farmers.

Telangana provides 24-hour free power supply to ryots, he said.

"The Congress makes free promises. But, there is no policy of doing it properly. In our neighbouring state Chhattisgarh, they promised a loan waiver. They evaded and did not do so," he said.

He also highlighted his government's welfare programmes, including farm loan waiver, supply of drinking water via taps, 'Rythu Bandhu' investment support scheme and Rythu Beema life insurance scheme for farmers.

He further said Telangana is number one in per capita income in the country and per capita power utilisation.

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