YSRCP supports Kapu agitation

Opposition YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) today voiced support for Kapu community's demand for inclusion in the Backward Class list and suggested increase in reservation ceiling to accommodate the community. The party accused the TDP government of being responsible for anger among the community members over the quota issue and pitting backward class (BC) communities against Kapus. YSRCP President Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy said his party totally supports the cause of Kapus and sought a viable way to include them in the quota list without cutting into existing reservation in jobs and education for BCs. He appealed to the agitators to maintain calm during protests. Talking to reporters here, Reddy said Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu had mentioned in his party 2014 manifesto that reservations would be provided to Kapus without affecting the BC quota besides earmarking Rs 5,000 crore for welfare of the community. "When nothing was forthcoming even 20 months after coming to power, the Kapu anger rose like a tide and their resentment was manifested in a very powerful torrent which has shaken the very foundation of the TDP Ggvernment," he said. He said the Chief Minister's annoyance and his efforts to accuse the Opposition party of trying to whip up passions over the quota issue is absolutely "ridiculous". Reddy said the demand of Kapus is very just as they were in reservation list from 1910 onwards. The first BC Commission had included them in the BC list, from where they were dropped through a GO (Government order) in 1956. "Setting up a Commission (by the Government) could not be the answer to the issue with the 50 per cent ceiling on reservations. "The percentage should be increased as the existing beneficiaries should not be affected. This can be done only by adopting a resolution in the Assembly and sending it to the Centre for inclusion in the Schedule IX through a Constitutional amendment as was done by the Tamil Nadu Government earlier," he said. "Despite having full knowledge of the fact, and being an ally of NDA coalition, Chandrababu Naidu is trying to wash his hands off by setting up a Commission and telling he will act as per its recommendations. "He is playing foul as he did earlier in case of the categorisation of SCs. Now, he is now trying to pit BCs against Kapus," Reddy alleged.