Kapu agitations in Andrapradesh

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