Andhra Pradesh: Quota transforms into unrest among communities

Vijayawada: Reservation debate has intensified in Andhra Pradesh as various caste groups and communities, particularly Kapus and Muslims, are intensifying their efforts to bring political pressure before 2019 elections.

Leaders of the groups warn that assurances given by the Telugu Desam government, if remained unfulfilled, would create law and order issue in the state.

The Kapu community is getting ready for its battle by intensifying its movement with the statement of Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu in Mahanadu.

Muslims, Rajakas and other communities are demanding in their own way to get reservation benefits.

The TD had made many election promises in 2014, like merging Kapu community with BC community, Rajaka community with SC community, Vaddera and Valmiki communities with ST community, Medara, Gandla, and Arekatika with SC community, Kurba and Kurama with ST community, and Padmasali from BC-B to BC-A, Sagara and Pusala BC-D to BC-A and others, along with better reservation opportunities to most backward communities.

Till now the focus of TD government is completely on Kapu community, meanwhile, though various communities have appealed the government to fulfil their assurances, the government has not paid any attention.

With regard to the Muslim community, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu had assured of providing the 4 per cent reservation to Muslims pending with the court and given during the YSR reign.

But now Muslim communities are demanding reservation like in Telangana without waiting for court verdict.

Vijayawada west MLA Jaleel Khan said, “We don’t have hope on the judgment coming at the earliest, which is in the hands of a five-judge bench, out of which one judge is no more, and the commencement of this bench and the judgment are like a dream for us.”

Even other caste groups and communities like Vaddera, Rajakas and others are preparing themselves for battling for their reservations as assured by the Chief Minister. They are preparing strategies to pressure the government to get what they want.

BC Welfare Association general secretary P. Mahesh said: “The Chief Minister made impractical assurances to win in 2014 elections by cheating on public and is now trying to bring up conflicts between the communities and other caste groups.”

He further mentioned about organising a huge protest if Mr. Naidu fails on these assurances.

Congress leaders Kolanukonda Shivaji of Rajaka community had fired on the Chief Minister for dishonouring his assurances made on merging Rajaka community with the SC community and said if questioned, the TD files cases.

He also appealed to study the 18 states which had identified Rajaka community as SCs.