In his first public appearance after walking out of the jail after 16 months, YSR Congress chief Jagan Mohan Reddy has praised Narendra Modi as a great administrator and urged him to come into a secular platform and unite the opposition against the Congress. Jagan Mohan’s latest comments have sent shockwaves across the Congress Party, which never anticipated the YSR Congress leader to praise Modi.

“We want Narendra Modi to come to a secular platform.” Religion must not be politicised. I appreciate Narendra Modi as an administrator, but I want peace with development. We are committed to secularism, like the Communists, like the JD (U). Why can’t he (Modi) practice a secular, inclusive politics and bring the entire opposition together, said Jagan Mohan.

At the same time, Jagan blasted the Congress Party, saying it divided Andhra Pradesh for votes. Jagan’s statements came in the wake of a strong possibility for a tie-up between the BJP and TDP ahead of 2014 polls.