Power star and Jana Sena Party president Pavan Kalyan's latest comments on castes and demand for reservations made during an interaction with engineering college students in Anantapur on Friday are said to be aimed at Kapu leader Mudragada Padmanabham, who has been fighting for reservation for Kapus under OBC quota.
Analysts say Pavan made a calculated comment on reservations stating that it was a sensitive issue and that it required a nation-wide debate, keeping in view the demand from Kapus for reservations under OBCs.
“Ambedkar himself suggested that reservations should not exceed one or two generations. But still some people are demanding reservations. If I speak more, they will give it wrong interpretations,” he said, in an obvious reference to Mudragada’s demand.
On the allegations about neglect of a particular caste, the power star said he would respect all the castes, but would not take up the cause of any particular caste.
“My party will talk about the discrimination of castes in Parliament and Assembly in coming days,” he said.
He also found fault, albeit indirectly, with Mudragada for taking up fasts every now and then.
“If problems can be solved with hunger strikes, then there would not have been any problem in the country in the last seven decades. I like Gandhiji and his principles, but his methods cannot be adopted in the present circumstances,” he said.
On Mudragada’s proposed padayatra, too, Pavan reacted indirectly, stating that he would also take up padayatra, if he is convinced that it would solve people’s issues.
