Naidu firm on crushing Mudragada padayatra

It appears Telugu Desam Party president and Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu is very firm on scuttling the proposed padayatra of Kapu leader and former minister Mudragada Padmanabham from July 26 seeking BC reservation for Kapus.

Following intelligence reports that there might be large scale violence this time if the padayatra is allowed to pass through sensitive villages, Naidu instructed the top police officials to ensure that the padayatra is not allowed, come what may. 

Director General of Police N Sambasiva Rao, who held a review meeting on law and order situation with IG, Eluru Range DIG, East and West Godavari District SPs at the DIG office, asserted that the police would not keep quiet, if Mudragada wants to take out padayatra with large number of people up to Amaravati since it might lead to law and order problems.

Unlike in the past, the DGP made it clear that no permission will be given to the ‘Chalo Amaravati Padayatra’ of Mudragada keeping in view the large scale violence that took place at Tuni during Kapu Garjana. 

“We have no objection if padayatras, cycle yatras and other events are taken up by people’s organisations without causing any law and order problem. However, keeping in view the past experiences during the agitation of Kapus seeking BC status, it was decided not to allow the former minister to undertake padayatra from Kirlampudi to Amaravati,” he said.

Action would be taken against the caste associations and other political organisations if they hold rallies in the State in support of Mudragada’s proposed padayatra to mobilise people’s support. 

He urged parents not to allow their children to hold rallies and take part in the padayatra.

“We police do not keep quiet when the law and order is disturbed in the name of agitation for reservation. It is our duty to maintain law and order. I urge people not to extend any support to Mudragada’s padayatra which has no permission and do not participate in it,” the DGP said.