Kapu stir: AP announces cabinet panel on political reservation

Vijayawada: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu today announced the constitution of a cabinet sub-committee to recommend political reservations for Kapu community which has been agitating for quota in jobs and education under the Backward Class (BC) category.

“The already set-up Justice Manjunath Commission will submit its recommendations to government on reservations for Kapus in job and educational institutions. However, the six-member cabinet sub-committee will decide the quantum of political reservation on the lines of BC reservations (for Kapus),” Naidu told reporters after the cabinet meeting here.

The CM said the reservation for Kapu community won’t affect the reservation of other constituents of the Backward Classes.

He also appealed to BC members to think positively on backwardness of the Kapu community and the government’s policy to promote the socio-economic and political status of Kapus.

An agitation by Kapus for reservation under BC category turned violent at Tuni in East Godavari district on Sunday.

The agitators, who had gathered at the town to attend the public meeting addressed by Mudragada Padmanabham, pelted the engine of Ratnachal Express train with stones and also attacked police personnel before ransacking the railway station. Four bogies of the train were also set ablaze.