Andhra Pradesh state government is not unduly worried about the proposed indefinite fast by Kapu reservation movement leader Mudragada Padmanabham. Five days after his Kapu Ikhya Garjana at Tuni, that turned violent, Mudragada is going on indefinite fast from February 5 from his house in Kirlampudi, East Godavari district, to press for the immediate inclusion of Kapus in the BC list.
While Naidu himself is handling the issue at political level, he is said to have instructed the police not to be lenient at the forces hell bent on exploiting the situation to create unrest in the state. The Tuni violence has helped the police to keep watch on the suspected miscreants among political parties and supporters of Mudragada padmanabham. Sources in the government said Mudragada’s fast would meet the same fate as that of Jagan’s.
“What happened in the case of Jagan’s indefinite fast for Special Status? Last October the Opposition leader went of fast at Guntur . For five days the government let it go on. Besides YSRC functionaries, leaders from all political parties paid a visit to him. For five days it was a page one news story. Finally, the police had to shift him to the hospital once his health showed deterioration. Jagan ended the fast,” he said.
Before going on indefinite fast Jagan toured the state far and wide and addressed two Yuva Bheris- one at Tirupati and the other at Vizag as to mobilize youth and students on the issues. The YSRC thought all the students would lay seize to the Guntur city demanding special status and the state would witness a political upheaval. Nothing of the sort had happened. The police, who came to the fast-venue for shifting him to the hospital they did not face any resistance from his followers. Government is expecting the same dram to repeat in Kirlampudi as well.
“Naidu has been in touch with all important Kapu leaders. All influential leaders of the community have assured Naidu that they would work at grass root level to neutralize the impact of Mudragada fast by educating them about the process initiated by the government to accord BC status to Kapus . From the other end police are on high alert,” TDP sources said.
This could be the reason for chief minister’s adamancy in not taking cognizance of Mudragada ‘s fast. According to party and government sources, the CM was not at all ready to talk to Mudragada Padmanabha. He is said to have dismissed a suggestion to this extent made by some Kapu leaders. That the CM has made any request to Mudragada so far not to take the extreme step of going on indefinite fast is indicative of his stubborn stand against the Kapu leader. Naidu strongly believes that Mudragada has become the tool in the hands of opposition YSR Congress. In the press conference he addressed after the cabinet meeting last night he said Mudrada could place his points before the cabinet subcommittee, the government wants to set up in a day or two.” If anyone has any suggestion or objection to make on the Kapu reservatio issue, the Sub-committee is the right place for them approach. The sub-committee will talk to all stake holders,” Naidu said expressing subtly his intention that he was not in a mood to talk to Mudragada.
