Leaders of the Kapu Joint Action Committee (JAC) on Saturday said the former Minister and leader of Kapu agitation Mudragada Padmanabham would launch a padayatra to Amaravati on July 26 as per schedule.
Addressing a press conference here, JAC leaders Akula Ramakrishna, Vasireddy Jesudas and others said if the police did not give permission, Mr. Padmanabham and his followers would squat on the roads and stage a dharna. Mr. Ramakrishna said the police had never given permission to the Kapu agitation and their leader. They were not expecting permission this time either. He said applying for permission was a “wasteful exercise.” The committee would nevertheless apply for it as a “formality.”
Minister’s appeal
Making it clear that the Andhra Pradesh government would not give permission for the padayatra proposed by Mr. Padmanabham, Home Minister N. Chinna Rajappa asked the Kapu youth not to fall prey to the designs of self-styled caste leaders.
He urged them to have confidence in Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, who was keen on fulfilling the promises made to the community. Addressing a press conference here, Mr. Rajappa said there was no point in giving permission to the padayatra as the intentions of the organisers were clear. “They are trying to provoke a particular caste to create disturbance.”
(With inputs from Kakinada)
