Hyderabad: Film actor turned politician and founder of Jana Sena Party Pawan Kalyan has created a stir by revealing that the BJP had told him two years ago that there will be a war before the Lok Sabha elections.

Pawan Kalyan, who is touring different parts of Andhra Pradesh to gear up the party for the forthcoming elections made the claim addressing a public meeting in Kadapa district while commenting on the continuing confrontation between India and Pakistan.

Without revealing the identity of the BJP leader who had told him about the “war before elections”, Pawan Kalyan said, “I was told two years ago war will be coming. From this you can understand what kind of situation our country is in”.

Pawan Kalyan who had actively campaigned for the BJP-TDP alliance in 2014 has already declared that his party JSP will contest the coming elections on its own. The film star who was given pride of place in Narendra Modi’s election meetings in Andhra Pradesh in 2014 said, “BJP is today behaving as if it has a monopoly on patriotism. “We are ten times more patriotic than the BJP”, he said taking a potshot at the BJP leaders.

Expressing concern over the worsening situation between India and Pakistan, Pawan Kalyan said this was the result of terror attack at Pulwama killing more than 49 CRPF personnel earlier this month.

“War cannot solve any problem. It will only harm both the sides”, he added.

Strongly defending the Muslim minority he derided those who demand proof of patriotism and nationalism from the minority community.

“There is no need for Muslims to prove their patriotism. Muslims have as much right in this country as Hindus. Our India protects people of all faiths and communities”, he said.

“I don’t know what is the condition of Hindus in Pakistan, but India keeps its Muslims in its heart. It made Azharuddin captain of its Cricket team and APJ Abdul Kalam its president”, he said.

Pawan Kalyan received support to his statement from an unexpected quarters. Film actress and a Congress leader Vijaya Shanti took to Twitter to support him. “I fully endorse his opinion. I categorically, even now, suggest that the BJP should refrain from resorting to the basest attempts of utilising sensitive issues like national security for mean political ends”, she said.