Hyderabad: Telangana BC unions are strongly opposing the inclusion of Kapus in BCs and have even planned agitation programmes in AP against the move on Thursday by laying siege on all the district collectorates in AP with the help of AP BC unions.
Telangana BC leaders argue that the Kapus will eat into other BC quotas and will grab most of the political opportunities if they are included in the BC list.
TS BC leader and TD MLA R. Krishnaiah has announced huge public rallies with 5 lakh BCs in Vijayawada, Eluru and Rajahmundry soon.
These agitation programmes will be held un-der the aegis of the National Backward Classes Welfare Association, of which Mr Krishnaiah is the president.
The main objection being raised by BCs against quotas for Kapus is that BC castes are categorised into four groups, namely, A, B, C, D and stipulated quota is given in education and employment for each category to ensure justifiable quotas for all. But there is categorisation of BCs for quota in local bodies.
The other objection is that the existing 25 per cent quota for BCs is not sufficient in the first place to do justice to the communities who comprise 54 per cent of the total population.
“Many Kapus are well off socially and economically. They have made it to the Legislative Assembly, Legislative Council, Parliament, local bodies etc. but half of the BC castes are yet to enter th-ese institutions even aft-er six decades of Indep-endence. If Kapus are included in BCs without categorising quota for local bodies, then majority of the opportunities would be grabbed by them as they are already strong politically. The BCs have started becoming MLAs and MPs in respectable numbers only recently and this will be lost if Kapus are included. We will not allow this to happen come what may,” he added.
Mr Krishnaiah urged the AP government not to force them to resort to such measures and not to commit another mistake to rectify one.
Kapu reservations not at our cost: BCs
Leaders of BC castes Joint Action Council on Wednesday demanded that Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu withdraw the proposal to provide BC reservations to the Kapu community.
Leaders from 25 organisations of BC castes said if the CM went ahead with the proposal and succumbed to pressure from the Kapus, that would send a wrong signal.
The BC leaders told a press conference that they would openly challenge the move and organise a meeting in Godavari district on February 25.
They ridiculed YSRC chief Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy for supporting the demand for Kapu reservations. President of BC Mahajana Samiti Y. Koteswara Rao said Mr Jagan Mohan Reddy must study the Constitution before issuing statements.
Mr Koteswara Rao said that if the government merged Kapu community in BC, then the interests of the existing BC list communities would be affected. They were weak and would not be in a position to compete with the Kapus in the local authority elections and the like. If indulging in violence strengthened the case of Kapus, that would set a bad precedent for others. “The existing castes in the BC list are socially, economically and educationally backward but the Kapus are not like that,” he said.
However, if the government wanted to extend reservation facility to Kapus, it should create a new quota for them through a Constitutional amendment, without taking away the existing benefits of the BCs, he said.
Leaders like Ramarao, N.V. Rao, G. Venkateswara Rao, Murthi and Rajasekhar from various castes participated in the media conference.
