Why in news?
The farming community of Kapus in Andhra Pradesh started agitations for theirinclusion in notified Backward Classes.
What are the demands of the Kapus?
- They constitute about 20% of the population, demanding its inclusion in notified Backward Classes.
- The demand for quota for the Kapus has been there for more than two decades.
- This will help them to get reservation in government jobs and educational institutions.
What are the reasons for the agitations?
- Present government promised quotas for the Kapus, three years on there has been no announcement on the quota.
- An agitation in 2016 stirred violence across the states, to address the issue came up with Manjunatha commission.
- It looked into the demands for quota by the Kapus and other communities.
- There is no word yet from the Commission though it has been touring the State and taking representations.
- Recent protests, it was inspired from the Gujjars and the Patels agitation.
How political parties gains from Kapu demands?
- The issue has been used effectively by ambitious Kapu leaders and political parties to garner votes from this numerically strong community.
- Few parties make a political impact, riding on the sentiment that none from the community could rise to the level of Chief Minister.
- They raise the caste divide among the people for their secure vote bank.
Source: The Hindu
