Keep away from padayatra of Mudragada, says DGP

Director General of Police N Sambasiva Rao has said no permission will be given to the proposed ‘Chalo Amaravati Padayatra’ keeping in view the large scale violence that took place during Kapu Garjana
DGP N Sambasiva Rao with police officials at the DIG office in Eluru on Thursday | Express
DGP N Sambasiva Rao with police officials at the DIG office in Eluru on Thursday | Express

ELURU: Director General of Police N Sambasiva Rao has said no permission will be given to the proposed ‘Chalo Amaravati Padayatra’ of Mudragada Padmanabham from July 26 seeking BC reservation for Kapus keeping in view the large scale violence that took place at Tuni during Kapu Garjana. 
The DGP held a review meeting on law and order situation with IG, Eluru Range DIG, East and West Godavari District SPs at the DIG office here on Thursday.

Addressing a news conference later, the DGP said action would be taken against the caste associations and other political organisations if they hold rallies in the State in support of Mudragada’s proposed padayatra to mobilise people’s support. He urged parents not to allow their children to hold rallies and take part in the padayatra seeking inclusion of Kapus in the list of Backward Classes. 

Listing out the violent incidents that took place during the agitations in East Godavari district since 1994, 44 cases were registered in Amalapuram town alone. Curfew was also imposed earlier to maintain law and order.

“We police do not keep quiet when the law and order is disturbed in the name of agitation for reservation. It is our duty to maintain law and order. I urge people not to extend any support to Mudragada’s padayatra which has no permission and do not participate in it,” the DGP said.

He further said police have no objection if padayatras, cycle yatras and other events are taken up by people’s organisations without causing any law and order problem. However, keeping in view the past experiences during the agitation of Kapus seeking BC status, it was decided not to allow the former minister to undertake padayatra from Kirlampudi to Amaravati to pressurise the State government to include Kapus in the list of BCs, he said.  

Replying to a question, the DGP said no permission was given to any people’s organisation or political party to organise protests in Garagaparru of Palakoderu mandal denouncing the social boycott of Dalits by upper caste people.  “We have to restore normalcy in the village first. So we are not giving permission to anyone to conduct public meetings or protests in the village. There is no problem if leaders of political parties and people’s organisations visit the village to show sympathy to Dalit victims. Many leaders visited Gargaparru and consoled the victims. Police did not prevent them. But no permission was given for holding a public meeting,” he said.

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