Jagan praises Modi, wants him to change system

HYDERABAD.30/09/2013: YSR Congress president Y. S. Jaganmohan Reddy addressing first news conference after being released from Jail, he called all political party heads to come for joint fight against state bifurcation, in Hyderabad on Monday. He praised Narendra Modi, who is running for Prime Ministerial candidate, to come to a secular platform..Photo: Mohammed Yousuf

YSR Congress president Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy has described BJP prime ministerial candidate Narenda Modi as a “good administrator,” but has indicated that he wants him to improve his secular credentials.

At a press conference here on Monday, Mr. Reddy was asked whom he would support at the Centre after the general election. He said: “We continue to be secular. I am not like Chandrababu Naidu [of the Telugu Desam Party] who makes U-turns. We are secular and we are committed to being secular.”

This was Mr. Reddy’s first interaction with the media after he was granted bail in the disproportionate assets case.

Pointing out that religion was personal, he asked: “Why should religion be politicised.” He wanted Mr. Modi to change the entire system to bring every party on a secular platform in the interests of the country.

Earlier, Mr. Reddy called on Governor E.S.L. Narasimhan at Raj Bhavan and submitted a representation, urging that the Assembly be convened immediately to pass a resolution for keeping Andhra Pradesh united.