The Kapula Veedhi here was abuzz with activity from the early hours of Sunday with Dalit leaders from different parts of the State, along with their supporters, making a beeline for it to participate in the unveiling of B.R. Ambedkar’s statue.
For the first time, people from a forward caste made arrangements for installing the statue.
Kapu leader Mudragada Padmanabham, the man behind the installation ceremony, welcomed the guests and termed its as a first-of-its-kind event.
“It is common to install Ambedkar’s statues in the areas inhabited by the Scheduled Castes. But, for the first time, Kapus have come forward for the cause,” he said while addressing the gathering. Calling upon the Kapus to make arrangements for installing the Dalit icon’s statues in their respective villages, Mr. Padmanabham said he would be happy to take part in the events.
“Ambekdar’s ideologies and works are not limited to a particular section of society,” he said, before announcing that November 12 would be celebrated on a grand scale in Kirlampudi every year.
Former MP Chinta Mohan said Ambedkar was a sincere leader and refused to accept the facilities provided to him by the government. “I have seen a similar sincerity in Mr. Padmanabham,” he said while referring to the agitation launched by the Kapu leader demanding inclusion of the Kapus in the list of the BCs and the hurdles created by the government.
Former MP G.V. Harsha Kumar said bifurcation was beneficial to both the SCs and the Kapus, as their population was high in Andhra Pradesh.
“The SCs and the Kapus should launch a movement seeking their share in the political arena,” he said.
Over 2,000 people from East and West Godavari, Guntur, Chittoor and Anantapur districts turned up for the event.
Former Minister S. Sailajanath, representatives of various Dalit organisations, and members of the Kapu JAC participated.
