Kapu leader Mudragada Padmanabham on Sunday resumed his trademark protest of beating the plate with the spoon to symbolise the starvation among the Kapu community in the absence of BC reservation.
Mr. Padmanabham had earlier called upon the community to stage a similar protest following the Kapu Aikya Garjana public meeting at Tuni to press for their share in reservation. With the police foiling his padayatra bid, the Kapu leader resumed his protest from his residence. He called upon the community to join him so that the State government would address the issue.
Accompanied by his family, members of the Kapu Joint Action Committee and the East Godavari district Congress committee president Pantam Nanaji, Mr. Padmanabham beat the plate for about half an hour. “This is the only way we can highlight the need for achieving BC status at this moment. The ‘padayatra’ to Amaravati, however, will be resumed from August 3.” There was an immediate need to make the government listen to the woes of the Kapu people, he said.
Security checks
The police force was retained in the village for the fifth consecutive day and identity check and frisking was carried out on those who entered or left the village.
Meanwhile, BJP MLC Somu Veerraju said in Kakinada that the Kapu agitation could be handled in a decent manner by the State government.
“The government is expected to resolve the issue, as the Telugu Desam Party has made a promise to the Kapus during the general elections. It is a sensitive issue and need to be dealt with utmost care,” he said.