Kapus stage dharna demanding reservations

Gudivada: Demanding revival of pre-1966 reservation status to Kapu, Balija and Telaga castes, activists of Kapunadu organised a rally in the town on Wednesday. Nallaganchu Rambabu, president of Kapunadu town unit, flagged off the rally after garlanding the statue of prominent coastal Andhra Kapu leader and slain MLA Vangaveeti Mohana Ranga at local AGK School. The rally passed through main localities of the town and culminated into a public meeting at flyover centre. Addressing the gathering, Rambabu said that the Kapunadu would wage an uncompromising war against the government till the inclusion of three castes in BC list. He said that many talented students belonging to the castes could not pursue their higher studies as there was no provision of reservation for them in spite of their financial backwardness. About 70 per cent of these castes belonged to the poor sections of society. He called upon the people of these castes to join hands in their struggle for reservations. Later, representatives of Kapunadu submitted a memorandum to Tahsildar Devadasu. Kapu Seva Samiti president Bandaru Noble Naidu, Kapu Sangham founder Ponnuru Ramakrishna, coordinator Madasu Satyanarayana, Kapu Yuvata district unit president Pattapu Mohan, town president Aavula Narendra, Kapu leaders G Balaram, V Ganesh and others were present.

JAC stages dharna Guntur: Demanding their inclusion in BC list, members of Kapu, Balija and Telaga castes staged dharna in front of Collectorate here on Wednesday. The demonstration was held in response to the call given by the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of Telaga, Balija and Kapu Samakhya for protests all over Andhra and Rayalaseema regions. Addressing the gathering, JAC coordinator Dasari Ramu alleged that the agitating castes were neglected by governments for 46 years. Though they were part of the BC list from 1910 to 1960, the Congress had snatched their reservations later. It was the responsibility of the present Congress regime to correct the fault of their predecessors by categorising them under BCs, he said. Recalling that the Congress promised reservations to Kapus along with Muslims during 2004 elections, Ramu said that it had failed to fulfil the commitment during its nine-year rule. The poor and students representing these castes had been facing many troubles for want of proper opportunities and financial resources, he lamented. The JAC coordinator announced that agitation for reservations would be intensified in future. Relay fast in next month would be followed by other protests planned for eight months. He urged the Congress leaders not to approach them for votes if they failed to include Kapu, Balija and Telaga castes in the BC list before the 2014 elections. Leaders of the JAC, members of student unions and others were present.