These days Bharatiya Janata Party leader and Rajya Sabha member G V L Narasimha Rao has suddenly become overactive with his attempts to appease the Kapu community by making pro-Kapu statements.
He has been encouraging felicitations by Kapu associations, issuing statements in support of reservations for Kapus under Economically Weaker Sections quota and even demanding renaming of one of the districts after Kapu strongman Vangaveeti Mohana Ranga.
So far so good. But GVL went a step further and tried to question the contribution of two former chief ministers – N T Rama Rao and Y S Rajasekhar Reddy to the state, in his eagerness to highlight the importance of Kapu community.
“Why should we talk about only two CMs? It appears the Andhra Pradesh politics is confined to only two communities, two parties and two families. This is not correct. Though those two leaders are admired people, why should we talk about only them and their families? Don’t we have any other leaders?” he asked.
Stating that social justice should be done for all the communities, GVL pointed out that Vangaveeti had not strived only for Kapus, but for all weaker sections and the poor people.
“When certain districts are named after the two CMs, why can’t another district be named after Ranga? Why are the ministers, MPs and MLAs of the same community are not responding to the demand?” he asked.
GVL’s comments drew flak from his own party leaders. Former Union minister and NTR’s daughter Daggubati Purandeshwari reacted strongly to his comments against YSR and NTR.
“One leader had brought recognition to the Telugu community and implemented welfare schemes like Rs 2 a kg rice scheme, pucca houses and Janata clothes and established women’s university,” she pointed out.
“Another leader brought in fee reimbursement scheme, 108 ambulance service and Arogya Sri. They are not just “those two leaders.” They are great leaders,” Purandeshwari added.