Representatives of about 100 backward castes today stoutly opposed the Telugu Desam government’s attempt to include the Kapus in the list of backwards castes. The castes, which met under the aegis of BC Jana Sabha at Vijayawada, resolved to resist all attempts to this effect and launch a movement to stop the move to dilute the reservations to these communities, which are socially backward. The BC leaders decided to organize a huge rally “BC Garjana” in March against Kapu demand for BC status.
The leaders recalled how Kapus opposed BC quota at the time of Mandal movement. ” How could a community opposed to the reservations for BC, now seek BC status,” the BC leaders asked.
Leaders of many political parties such as Pilli Subashchandra
Bose, which are supporting the Kapu reservations, also attended the meeting- an indication to the difference of opinion in the parties on the extending the reservations to the Kapus.
BC welfare association leader, R Krishaiah, who is spearheading the BC movement against the Kapus’ demand for BC status, said reservations was not a poverty alleviation program. ” If there are poor among the Kapus then they certainly need help. Such poor are existing in every community including Brahmins, Reddys, Kammas. What these poor need is some poverty alleviation program, not the BC status,” he said.
Stating that a community such as Kapu, which has highest representation in public life, bureaucracy, trade and commerce, movie world etc was no moral ground to seek BC status meant for the communities which suffered discrimination for ages, Krishnaiah said.
” Out of 175 MLA of Andhra Pradesh Assembly 27 are Kapus. The community has one deputy CM and five ministers. While for 138 castes of BCs , there is only one deputy CM and fewer MLAs. While BC are demanding for reservations proportionate to the population Government should not add one more community to the list,” Krishnaiah said demanding increase of reservation proportionate to the population. He rubbished the argument of Telugu Desam government that Kapus would be given reservation without hurting BC interests. ” Let the publicly reveal how is it possible,”he questioned.
He asked both Kapus and the Telugu Desam government to desist from talking about reservation for Kapu, which socially economically advanced commituty.
