Andhra Pradesh’s Kapu leader Mudragada continues fast in hospital

Vijayawada, June 12 (IANS) Kapu leader and former Andhra Pradesh minister Mudragada Padmanabham continued his indefinite fast for the fourth day on Sunday.

He continued the fast at the government-run hospital at Rajamahendravaram in East Godavari district.

Doctors said he refused to give his blood samples or undergo treatment. The hospital staff failed to forcibly administer saline as the fasting leader refused to cooperate.

Padmanabham is demanding release of those arrested in connection with the violent incidents that occurred at Tuni in the same district in January.

Padmanabham, who is spearheading a movement demanding reservation for members of the Kapu community in government jobs and educational institutions, began the indefinite fast along with his wife at his residence in Kirlampudi on Thursday.

Amid high drama, police arrested and shifted him to a hospital in Rajamahendravaram the same day.

Doctors administered the saline to Padmanabham's wife as her condition was deteriorating.

Padmanabham alleged that the ruling Telugu Desam Party (TDP) has gone back on its assurance to withdraw cases registered in connection with the violence during Kapu protest at Tuni in January.

He went on fast after the government refused to withdraw the cases.

The agitation by Kapus turned violent at Tuni when the protesters went on a rampage, setting afire a passenger train, a police station as well as police and private vehicles on January 31.

A few days later, he began an indefinite fast, demanding quota for Kapus. He ended the fast after assurances from the state government, including an allocation of Rs 1,000 crore annually to Kapu Welfare and Development Corporation.

The TDP government said it was working sincerely to implement the poll promise to provide quota to Kapus. It formed a panel to take appropriate steps for including the community in backward classes list.

Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Minister N. Chinnarajappa said that the government is ready to hand over probe into Tuni incidents to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).