HYDERABAD: The significance of the death of one person in Amala puram in East Godavari district following a clash between Kapur supporters of Congress MLA Mr. Mudrag adda Padmanabhan and other votaries of the backward classes has been lost in the euphoria surrounding the maverick leader’s decision to call off his seven day long fast.

The deceased and other supports were going back to their village after visiting Padmanabham when their truck was set ablaze. It fell into a canal and one person drowned.

The incident is in indicator of the taste awareness creeping into Andhra politics. An intelligence report on the law and order situation submitted at the recent conference of collectors said the advent of Kanshi Ram’s Bahujan Samaj Party in the state was likely {to whip up-caste tensions not only between the upper castes and the

Scheduled castes but also between the backward classes and the SCs as had happened in Uttar Pradesh The report said the many incidents of Ambedka statues being vandalized in the state pointed to the growing caste divide. As compared to five such incidents in 1993 there had already been six incidents in the first four months Of this year Kanshi Ram’s frequent Visits 10 the state has raised the expectations of various caste groups and brought their discontent to the force.

Incidents of caste discrimination Jand disputes eve-teasing and molestation which would have gone unnoticed in the past were likely o spark major caste conflicts in the coming days the report said

The awareness has taken the form of separate conferences being organized by various caste groups highlighting their problems. Conferences of washer men aryakatika (butchers) Yadavas Vishvakarma (goldsmiths) fishermen and stone cutters have had overwhelming support from community members. The same cannot be said for conference organized under the umbrella of backward classes which were only attended members of community by to which the chief organizer belonged.

A prominent backward class leader in the state Keshav Rao attributed this phenomenon to the weakness of the class structure that brings 96 separate caste groups under the umbrella of backward classes. The problem was that they wanted class identity keeping intact their caste identity the leader said. The various conferences also reflected the people’s unhappiness with the present leadership. None of the self-styled leaders of the BCs were invited to any of these conferences. A new leadership emerged in each case.

This lack of cohesion however Suited the state’s leadership as it gave them a chance to play political games Rao said.

The intelligence report also predicted that the simmering discontent among the BCs over the Kapunadu move for inclusion of the Kapus in the BC list could led to a counter-movement. The first indication of this was evident in the condemnatory statements of various BC leaders when Padmanabham resigned from the assembly protesting against the non-inclusion of Kapus in the BC list.

The rasta rokos and cycle rally that he organized after his resignation had much support among the Kapus but the BC leadership accused him of using pressure tactics. What happened in Amala puram showed that if Kapus were willing to resort to militancy to get themselves included in the backward classes list where were BC groups which were just as willing to resort to violence to keep their share ‘of the benefits. Some BC sections believe that Kapus living in the coastal districts do not deserve the benefits because they are socially and economically better off.

Till 1961 all Kapus were classified under the BC category. The then chief minister Mr Nese group to the detriment of the Reddys within the Congress decided that Kapus would be part of the list on the basis of region. ‘Thus Kapus in Telangana (known as Munnuru Kapus) Rayalseema balijas) and in the northem balijas) and in the northern coastal districts of Sri kakulam Vizianagaram and Vishakhapatnam (Tarpu) remained on the list while those in the fertile East and West Godavari districts were excluded

Article extracted from this publication >> July 15, 1994