CM Chandrababu Naidu once again assured that state government was committed to include the Kapus to the list of Other Backward Castes (OBC). He reiterated his stand today in Dwaraka Tirumala today. Naidu assurance assumes signficance in backdrop of demand from many upper castes for reservations across the country. Yesterday, many upper castes had held a demonstration demanding reservation. In Andhra Pradesh, members of Kapu, one of the biggest land-owning comminuties in state have been demanding OBC status. But, the demand is being fiercely contested by the origanal OBC communties. Hence the delay in including the community to the OBC list.

So, Naidu periodiacally reiterates his poll-commitment to the Kapus. On Thursday, in Dwaraka Tirumala, he said a fianance corporation would be set up with Rs 100 initial capital held poor among the Kapus.

The CM said the non-availability of land had become roadblock for the industrialization of East and West Godavari district. ” To overcome this problem and to make available enough land to set up industries, state government is planning to denotify 17,000 acres of forest land soon,” he said.