Jagan Mohan Reddy meets family of Kapu man who killed self over quota

Kakinada (AP), Feb 3: YSR Congress chief YS Jagan Mohan Reddy on Tuesday met family members of a man, belonging to the Kapu community, who allegedly committed suicide in support of reservation demand for the community under OBC category.

Reddy arrived here from Srikakulam and drove straight to the residence of C H V Murthy, who hanged himself from a dish antenna at Bennet Club in the Collectorate on Monday. The Opposition leader consoled the family members and assured them of his party's full support.

Later, talking to reporters, he blamed Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu for the present plight of Kapus and also the suicide of Murthy, a TV mechanic by profession and a resident of Kakinada. Reddy demanded an ex-gratia of Rs 10 lakh to the next of kin of Murthy and a government job to one of his family members.

The Chief Minister should convince the Centre to amend the Constitution to raise the quota limit from present 50 per cent, he said. Meanwhile, former Andhra Pradesh Minister Vatti Vasantha Kumar extended support to the agitation launched by Kapus for reservation in jobs and education.

Kumar met Mudragada Padmanabham, who is spearheading the agitation, at his residence in Kirlampudi, East Godavari district and extended his support to the quota stir. He said Naidu should treat the quota demand as a social issue and not a political one.

"The Chief Minister should take a proper decision on the issue," Kumar said. "The Kapu community is facing severe problems. The Chief Minister should fulfil his promise made in 2014 election manifesto (to provide OBC status to Kapus)."

PTI