S.R.Seshu
A community that represents about 27 percent of the population in Andhra Pradesh is on the boil following the arrest of Kapu Nadu leader Mudragada Padmanabham who has been observing fast-unto-death for the last five days.
Even as Kapus from various fields are coming out openly, a group of top Kapu leaders, cutting across party lines, met at Park Hayatt hotel in Hyderabad and issued an ultimatum to the Chandrababu Naidu government.
Congress leaders-Pallam Raju, Dasari Narayana Rao, Chirajeevi and C.Ramachandraiah and YSRCP leaders- Botsa Satyanarayana, Ambati Rambabu and Kannababu-and some former IAS, IPS officers took part in the crucial meet. They asked the government to act within next two days lest be ready to face the ire of Kapus . “If the government fails to resolve the issue, we will announce our action plan. Government should stop trying dividing Kapus and we met here to announce to the world that entire Kapu community is with Mudragada Padmanabham,” Dasari Narayana Rao, film director, said. He observed that police had set up jammers to cut off the communication channels of the agitating leader and he wondered whether we are living in India or Pakistan?
Dasari said that the community is not in a position to lose Mudragada as it had incurred a great loss in the death of Vangaveeti Mohana Ranga in Vijayawada. Congress MP Chiranjeevi, who shot of a letter three days ago, warned of dire consequences if Mudragada is harmed.
Some leaders expressed doubts that there is an attempt to eliminate Mudragada in the hospital. Sakshi Media group Editorial Director K.Ramachandra Murthy, in a live show, observed that the TDP government had given a false promise knowing pretty well that it is not possible to give reservation as demanded by Kapus.
Gafoor, CPM leader, who was in Rajahmundry yesterday, alleged that ‘police rule’ is in place in Andhra Pradesh and it is akin to emergency during Indira Gandhi regime. He said that the government posed a threat to democracy.
Meanwhile, the Kapu Sadbhavana Sangham approached the Human Rights Commission against the ‘police brutality’ against Kapu leaders.
