Kapu leader vows to continue agitation for quota

Kapu leader Mudraguda Padmanabham on Monday said the Kapus' agitation will continue till they are included in the list of backward classes and provided reservation.

Padmanabham announced that he will go on fast unto death in four to five days. "I will continue the fast even if I am jailed," he told reporters at Kirlampudi in East Godavari district.

He had led a massive protest at Tuni on Sunday and gave a call for rail and road blockade. The protestors set fire to a train, two police stations and several vehicles.

The former minister, however, blamed the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) government for the violence. Reacting strongly to the ruling party's allegations against him, he alleged that TDP leaders led the anti-social elements.

Padmanabham said they had been fighting for justice for several years and made it clear that their agitation would remain peaceful.

The Kapu leader said the community had to organise the public meeting as Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu failed to fulfil his poll promise.

Claiming that their movement was above party lines and that he has dedicated his life for the cause of reservation for Kapus, Padmanabham condemned the allegations by TDP leaders that he had sold out his community to a party.