Mudragada Thanks CM, But Wants 10% Quota!

Kapu strongman and former minister Mudragada Padmnabham, who has threatened to move heaven and earth for the Kapu reservations, has beaten a retreat with the Andhra Pradesh assembly passing the bill on providing five per cent reservations to Kapus under Backward Classes quota.

Mudragada, who has closeted with his followers and Kapu Joint Action Committee leaders on Saturday morning, discussed his future course of action in the event of the decision taken by the AP government including Kapus in the BC list and providing five per cent reservations.

In the evening, Mudragada came out with a statement, thanking Telugu Desam Party president and chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu for taking a decision on Kapu reservations.

He announced that he was withdrawing his proposed agitation after December 6, albeit for the time being, in the wake of the government’s decision.

He, however, said the agitation would continue till the Kapus get the legitimate quota with the inclusion of the Bill in the Ninth Schedule of the Indian constitution.

“We shall continue to bring pressure on both the State and Central governments till the Bill gets the legal sanctity,” he said.

Mudragada has come out with a new demand that five per cent reservation for Kapus is not sufficient and it should go up to 10 per cent.

“We want the government to go in for fresh enumeration of Kapus and their social status and provide reservations as per their population,” he said.

Interestingly, till recently, Mudragada was saying that Kapus would be content with whatever percentage of reservations they would be given.

“We want to be included in the BCs and it is up to the government to decide what percentage of reservation it would provide,” he used to say in the past.

Now, this is a fresh headache for Naidu government!