Hyderabad, Feb. 24 -- Nizamabad MP and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Dharmapuri Arvind sparked a sharp political row after making communally charged remarks against Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy, drawing strong warnings from senior Congress leaders, though they were careful to keep their tone more measured than his.

Arvind's comments came in the backdrop of communal clashes and arson in Telangana's Banswada last week.

Speaking to the media on Sunday, February 22, Arvind claimed that the Cabinet meeting scheduled for Monday would begin with the reading of the Kalma, with all participants wearing skullcaps. He alleged this was in line with what he called Islamic organisations' goal of turning India into an Islamic country by 2050....