M Padmanabham, the senior Kapu leader, on a hunger strike for the past four days in his residence at Kirlampudi village in East Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh called it off on Monday afternoon. Along with him his wife, Padmavati, also ended the stir.

Two Telugu Desam leaders - TDP president Kala Venkata Rao and Minister Accham Naidu - called on him on behalf of the Government and apprised him of the steps being taken by the State Government to provide reservations to the Kapu community and urged him to call off his agitation.

Padmanabham said that in view of the positive response from the State Government, he had called off the stir and he expressed the hope that the State Government would fulfill the promises given to the Kapu community in due course without any further delay.

The two Government representatives gave him an assurance that the State Government was committed to providing the Kapus reservations and the follow-up steps would be taken after receiving the report from the Manjunadha Commission.

sarma.rs@thehindu.co.in

comment COMMENT NOW