AP: Kapu garjana agitation takes political turn

The ‘Kapu Aikya Garjana’, a demand by the Kapu community to be included in the list of backward classes, has escalated into a full-fledged political battle in Andhra Pradesh. The only saving grace has been the end to violent events over the weekend.

The ruling Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and Chief Minister N Chandrababu came under fire from opposition YSR Congress Party chief YS Jaganmohan Reddy, and Mudragada Padmanabham, who is leading the agitation.

Both leaders demanded immediate implementation of the poll promises made by the government in toto. Inclusion of the Kapu community (a strong force in the east and west Godavari districts of AP, accounting for over 25 per cent of the population in the State) in the BC list was a key poll promise of the TDP.

This, along with the critical support extended by actor and Jana Sena chief Pawan Kalyan who wields considerable influence in the community, helped Naidu reap political gains in the 2014 elections.

The huge response to the call of Mudragadda Padmanabham, a strongman of the community, on Sunday to launch an agitation took the form of rasta roko then into a rail roko , before an uncontrollable protest that resulted in unsavoury incidents like torching the ‘Ratnachal Express’ train and injuries to some in Tuni town of East Godavari.

However, on Monday, rail and road traffic was restored, as agitators agreed to clear the rail tracks and the National Highway (Kolkata-Chennai) late on Sunday night.

Sensing the political fallout, Naidu called for an urgent meeting in Vijayawada to review the situation. The initial response from the CM was to take the emerging challenge and leadership of Kapus head on. The CM blamed Kapu leaders and opposition YSR Congress for fanning violence.

The CM said, “We are committed to it and are taking the necessary steps. We have appointed a commission to go into the issue and on its recommendations, we shall proceed further. Meanwhile, anti-social elements are inciting Kapus and creating such a situation. The Congress and YSR Congress should take the blame,” he charged.

Refuting the charges, YS Jaganmohan Reddy fixed the entire responsibility on Naidu for failing the Kapus with his false promises. “There is one page of commitment. Kapu leaders are asking what happened. But instead of fulfilling those, he is playing politics.”

On the other hand, Mudragadda, an erstwhile TDP leader and minister, blamed the CM for the violent turn of events and reiterated that he would intensify the agitation by taking up an indefinite fast if the State government did not issue a GO (government order) including the Kapus in the BC list.

“The TDP and CM promised ₹1,000 crore for Kapu welfare every year, but till now no sign of any implementation has been seen,” he told newspersons.

In Hyderabad, Pavan Kalyan contented that the demands of the Kapus were not overnight, but have been pending for over decades.

The Commission set up by the government has not given any report. His brother, former Union Tourism minister and actor Chiranjeevi of Cong (I) also wrote to the CM.

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