The agitation against the planned privatisation of the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant intensified with workers’ unions staging protests across the state in Andhra Pradesh.
Former MP and senior politician Sabbam Hari has suggested that we have to fight unitedly in Delhi against the privatisation of the Visak Steel Plant.
Union Minister for Finance Nirmala Sitharaman has made it very clear that Visakha Steel Plant will be privatised hundred percent. PM Modi also clarified that the Government will not be in the business of doing business.
Steel plant workers’ began a relay hunger strike at the Kurmannapalem gate in Visakhapatnam.
CPI national secretary K Narayana, Andhra Pradesh minister Muttamsetti Srinivasa Rao and leaders of various labour unions expressed support for the protest.”There is a responsibility to protect the Visakha Steel Plant, which is being privatised to plunder thousands of acres of land.
The state government has to bring a law – that if land was allotted to any industry they would not be able to sell it. It is not enough for the state government to just pass a resolution in the Assembly. If we protect the steel plant it is equal to saving the prestige of the state, the TDP leaders said.
“Attempts are being made to occupy the heart of the city. It is the property of the people. No Prime Minister or Chief Minister has the right to privatise it, they opined.
TDP state president Atchannaidu expressed solidarity with the workers protest, and said that privatisation would not be accepted under any circumstance.
