Power Star Pawan Kalyan, who is disappointed over the violence during the agitation of the Kapu community, has condemned N Chandrababu Naidu's government for not acting upon its poll promise in time.
Pawan Kalyan, who was busy shooting for "Sardaar Gabbar Singh" in Kerala, put its filming on hold and rushed to Hyderabad soon after hearing about the political unrest in Andhra Pradesh. He held a press conference at 4 pm on Monday to condemn the incident. He said anti-social elements were behind the violence, but it could have been avoided if the government had taken security measures.
"(I am) deeply upset with the violence during the Kapu agitation in Tuni yesterday (Sunday). No doubt anti-social elements were involved in the riot," Gulte quoted Pawan Kalyan as saying.
"This violence could have been averted were the government and the police prepared to face such a huge protest in which thousands were talking part," the Power Star added.
The actor said the Kapu community had been demanding for reservation for many years. The government should address their need, and delay would result in public unrest, he said. "The Chandrababu Naidu government should have acted swiftly to implement its poll promise of BC reservation for Kapus," Pawan Kalyan said.
Pawan Kalyan belongs to the Kapu community, which constitutes 24% of the total population of Andhra Pradesh. It is well known that the Jana Sena party chief had campaigned for Chandrababu Naidu's TDP and the BJP before the 2014 general elections. It is believed his association had helped the TDP woo the numerically strong Kapus in the state.
During the election campaign, Naidu had promised to work on the Kapus' demand of reservation and agreed to include the community in the OBC category. More than 20 months have passed since he became the chief minister, but he is yet to fulfil his promise. Recently, he set up a judicial team to look into the reservation issue.
The Kapu community had held a massive agitation for reservation in Tuni, a small town in the East Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh on Sunday. But violence broke out in area, and the protesters set afire several coaches of Ratnachal Express, two police stations and at least 25 vehicles. They also blocked NH 16.
Here is the video of Pawan Kalyan addressing the press conference in Hyderabad on Monday.
