TDP to exploit Jagan’s faux pas on Kapu reservation to the hilt

Amaravati: Bent on exploiting YS Jaganmohan Reddy’s ‘faux pas’ on securing BC status for Kapus to the maximum extent possible, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Monday asked his MPs to expose the actual intent of the YSRC leader when he said he was helpless in getting reservations for them.

Not losing much time lest the issue should become stale, Naidu wanted his MPs to go to town that Jaganmohan Reddy's line on Kapu reservations was only to please the Central leadership of the BJP with which he has a tacit understanding.

Jaganmohan Reddy, addressing a public meeting in Jaggampet in East Godavari district, had said that he cannot promise reservations to Kapus since the issue was under the purview of the Centre, which raised the hackles of the Kapu leaders.

Though Jaganmohan Reddy, later, had asserted that he was being frank and truthful about Kapu reservation issue but the impression that gained ground was that he was not in favour of reservations for Kapus.

As the state government’s Bill, passed by AP Legislative Assembly in December last year, is now on the Centre's table for inclusion in Schedule IX of the Indian Constitution, Naidu asked his MPs bring pressure on the Centre to act on it immediately.

The Bill had recognised Kapus as those belonging to backward classes and provided them 5 per cent reservation in jobs and education. Since provision of 5 per cent reservation would take the overall reservation percentage in AP to 55 which is in excess of 50 per cent cap imposed by the Supreme Court, the state sent the bill to the Centre for inclusion in the Ninth Schedule.

If the Bill is included in the Ninth Schedule, the issue becomes ultra vires for the courts to review it. In Andhra Pradesh, the existing break up of reservation is: BCs: 29 per cent, SCs: 15 and STs: 6 per cent. If 5 per cent reservation is created for the Kapus, the overall percentage would go upto 55.
Intent on cornering Jaganmohan Reddy, Naidu said that the MPs should insist that Jaganmohan Reddy was taking a stand that pleased the BJP leadership since he wants to get off the CBI hook by being in the good books of the Prime Minister.

The cases registered by the CBI against him for being in possession of assets disproportionate to his income are still pending in the court. Naidu recalled that at his recent ‘Dharma Porata Deeksha’ at Ongole recently, it has become evident to him that the people had appreciation for the MPs for fighting for the state's causes.

He asked them not to lose any opportunity in protecting the interests of the state. He suggested that they should continue to keep heat on the Centre for railway zone at Visakhapatnam and steel plant in Kadapa district.

Naidu also wanted the MPs to counter the claims of the Centre that the state was not cooperating in location of AIIMS in AP. They should make it clear that state had allotted land, provided water and power supply. The ball is now in the Centre's court, he asserted.