Kapus community row: Mudragada Padmanabham calls off indefinite hunger stir

Kakinada: The unpredictable Kapunadu leader, Mudragada Padmanabham, called off his indefinite hunger strike on Monday though the AP government did not issue a GO to include Kapus in the BC list, as had been his demand.

Mr Padmanabham called off his fast on oral assurances by a team of Telugu Desam leaders, including ministers, sent “officially” by AP CM Chandrababu Naidu. Mr Padmanabham and his wife Mudragada Padmavathi called off their indefinite hunger strike on the fourth day, after the talks with leaders.

State labour minister K. Achaiah Naidu and Telugu Desam party state president Kimidi Kala Venkatrao offered him lemon juice with an assurance to solve the issue. He was promised that “the government would release Rs 500 crore for the Kapu Welfare Finance Corporation in the present financial year and allocate Rs 1,000 crore every year from the next budget. The commission’s report on inclusion of Kapus in the BC list should be submitted before seven months, and cases would not be booked against innocent people in relation to the Tuni violence on January 31”. “Mudragada has accepted these proposals of the government and the issue has been settled,” said the leaders. They thanked Mr Padmanabham for calling off the stir.

Achaiah Naidu said that all parties had ignored Kapus’ welfare and reservations till now. But Chief Minister had put their demands in the TD manifesto, constituted a commission and also set up a corporation. He added the CM was taking steps for helping the Kapu community. Mr Padmanabham said that in view of the positive response from the government, he was calling off the stir along with his wife, co-agitators Akula Ramakrishna, Vasireddy Yesudasu and those who had been protesting at places like Amalapuram and West Godavari district. He said the government had also assured him that no innocent person would be prosecuted in the Tuni violence case.