Even before the unrest caused with the protests by Kapu community in Tuni come to normalcy, it’s fast spreading to the surrounding places. The latest is that a Kapu man hanged himself to death reportedly saddened with the agitation.

Demanding for inclusion of Kapus into BCs, a man has committed suicide in Kakinada collectorate. Kakinada collectorate staff suffered to rude shock when a man’s body was spotted in Vikas Bhavan in the collectorate.

Based on the suicide note found alongside body, it’s presumed that the man had given up his life for the reservations to Kapus. Cops have booked a case and started probe based on the suicide note.

Godavari districts are known for calm, serene atmosphere. However, the latest protests based on caste equations are surprising many. Intellectuals are expressing their worry over the latest developments in Godavari districts. So far Kapu leaders, political parties haven’t commented about the suicide.

Flashing off their castes’ names on their vehicles is a matter of pride for most of the Teluguites. This maniacal caste sycophancy has now become a cause of panic among several hundreds of people in Tuni and several others parts of Andhra Pradesh since yesterday.

With the shocking violence carried out by the unruly anti-socials in Tuni during the Kapu Aikya Garjana protest rally, caste politics heated up in the otherwise peaceful state of Andhra Pradesh. And people belonging to other castes have been facing the heat and experiencing a sense of fear directly.

During the rasta roko on the Chennai-Kolkata highway in Tuni in which hundreds of vehicles were stranded in a miles long traffic jam, all the vehicle owners removed the flashy stickers and slogans of their castes from their cars and bikes, fearing that the anti-socials may also attack them seeing their caste names.

Not stopping here, these frightened other caste members even held discussions with their community leaders in their villages about the consequences and protective measures if the anti-socials resort to personal attacks. However, with the situation being brought under control by the special forces, everyone is taking a huge sigh of relief even though the fear remains.

Hours after the violence unleashed in Tuni due to Kapu Garjana, Opposition leader YS Jagan has opened to mudslinging. Reacting to Kapu furore, YSRCP president YS Jagan Mohan Reddy has breathed fire on AP CM Chandrababu Naidu and alleged that Naidu is sole responsible for the issue.

Jagan went ahead and dubbed Mr Naidu as “Criminal No.1”. Refuting TDP’s allegations that YSRCP, Congress would be behind protests, Jagan in return alleged that Naidu is creating differences between castes, religions and regions.

Pointing out that Mr Naidu failed to keep his word in inclusion of Kapus in BCs, Jagan extended his full support to Kapu community. Jagan Reddy also asked Naidu to implement reservations to Kapus without affecting other communities in BCs.

On other hand, Jagan has asked Kapu leaders, youth to be tolerant. He said Mr Chandrababu Naidu would defame them if they resort to violence.

– Deeply upset with the violence during the Kapu agitation in Tuni yesterday. There is no doubt in saying that anti-social elements were involved in the riot.

– Protesters should carry out their agitation in a peaceful manner without causing public life to a halt.

– Chandrababu government should have acted swiftly towards its poll promise of BC reservation for Kapus.

– Why did the government ignore the Kapu leaders appeals regarding their demands? This violence could have been averted had the government and police forces were prepared to face such a huge protest in which thousands were talking part.

– Kapu reservation demand has been in existence since the British rule. Government should address the situation promptly. It should clearly inform the leaders of its helplessness is it can’t give reservations. Please do not delay in reacting to the demand since it will cause severe public unrest.

– I believe in BR Ambedkar’s constitution model.

– Kapus are strongly feeling that they are being exploited by the political parties.

– Government failed grossly in creating the trust factor among the agitating Kapus.

– Leaders should refrain themselves from making instigating remarks in sensitive situations.

– Reservations cannot be granted in a single day. A committee has to be formed to chalk out the possibilities.

– Constitutional amendment has to made to facilitate reservations.

– I am not and will never fight for any single community.

– Justice has to be made for Kapus without causing injustice to other BC communities.

– I am not a representative of the government or a community.

– I fight for the welfare of the entire system.

–  I don’t fight for any caste or community. I fight for the national integration.

– I am deeply upset by Rohith Vemula’s suicide.

– It’s a fact that communal bias exists in universities and educational institutions.

– Rohith’s suicide was limited to HCU. Political parties exploited this sensitive issue. I didn’t want to be part of this political game on a student’s death and chose to regain silent.

The Kapu Aikya Garjana protests carried out by thousands of Kapus at the behest of former MP Mudragada Padmanabham took a violent turn today as angry protestors torched the Ratnachal Express which was stationed at Tuni railway station.

The protests were so intense that AP CM Nara Chandrababu Naidu has called for an emergency meeting to bring the situation under control and also to understand the magnitude of the agitation, since the agitators warned the government of stepping up their protests if their demands of including Kapus in BCs are not addressed at the earliest.

Incidentally, the Kapu agitation has numerous similarities with the Hardik Patel led Patidar agitation which stormed Gujarat last year. The 22-year-old Hardik Patel became the face of Patidar community, which has been demanding the Gujarat government to include Patidars in the OBCs.

Till date, the Patidar reservation agitation, which took its rise after PM Modi failed to live up to his 2014 poll promise of ‘uplifting the Patidars’, has not found any clear solution to the main issue of reservation in Government jobs and education under OBC category, while Hardik is stuck into a pile of legal cases levied against him by the state.

Similarly in AP, CM Nara Chandrababu Naidu, in his 2014 election campaign, promised to pave a red carpet to Kapus in the cabinet and also carry out various developmental schemes for Kapus. However, not happy with Babu’s initiatives, a group of Kapu leaders called for an ambitious agitation.

Noticing the impact of BJP’s setback in the last year’s civic polls in Gujarat, where the 1.5 crore Patidars went all against the ruling party, Babu’s government will be wary of the dissent among the 27% Kapu population in the state, if the agitation succeeds in catching more steam in the coming days.