Senior Kapu leader M Padmanabham and his wife, Padmavathi, are continuing the hunger strike at their residence in Kirlampudi village in East Godavari district for the third day on Sunday, demanding that the State government issue a GO including the Kapus in the BC list and provide them reservations.

Tension is mounting in the two Godavari districts, as the police are not allowing anyone to visit the fasting leader. Padmanabham was not cooperating with the police and revenue officials, who wanted to get medical tests conducted to ascertain his physical condition and that of his wife.

The State Cabinet sub-committee met here on Sunday to discuss the issue. Finance Minister Y Ramakrishnudu said the State government had already constituted a commission headed by Justice Manjunadha to go into the issue. After receiving its report, follow-up action would be taken and the Chief Minister had made it clear that the government was committed to fulfilling the promise of providing reservations to the Kapus without adversely affecting the interests of the BCs.

Ramakrishnudu said, “Under the circumstances, it is not clear why Padmanabham is undertaking the fast. The government is very clear on the issue. However, attempts are being made by some Congress and YSR Congress leaders to politicise and complicate the issue.”

He said there were already murmurs of protest from the BCs, “but we are pacifying them and going about doing justice to the Kapus without doing injustice to others. We in the government are not playing caste politics.”

State HRD Minister G Srinivasa Rao said issuing a GO in a hurry would only harm the interests of the Kapu community as it would not stand judicial scrutiny. Therefore, a commission was appointed and the due process is being followed with sincere intent. He appealed to the Kapus not to fall into the political trap of Opposition parties.

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