The Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP) Members of Parliament (MPs) expressed disappointment over the decision of the privatisation of Visakhapatnam Steel Plant.
The Andhra Pradesh Tourism Minister Muttamsetti Srinivasa Rao and MP Vijayasai Reddy on the 10th of February, participated in a protest regarding the same.
A few workers and employees of the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant organised a protest opposing disinvestment and privatisation.
During the ongoing protest, the YSRCP MP Vijayasai Reddy said, the State Government is against the Centre’s decision to privatise the old steel plant.
He cleared the stand of Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, in the matter. He said, the opposition party is trying to defame Mr. Jagan Mohan Reddy over the issue by claiming that he is supporting the VSP privatisation.
Vijayasai Reddy said, Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy is against the privatisation of the years old steel plant and would do anything to save it. He even faulted the decision of the Central Government to sell away the majority stake in the RINL to private corporate firms.
He mentioned that the YSRCP will fight along with employees and workers to protect the steel plant from becoming a private company.
On the 9th of February, Mr. Reddy also said, “Everyone welcomes Jagan’s constructive suggestions on the privatisation of Vizag Steel. He wrote to the Prime Minister that Vizag Steel would come into profits if the mines were allocated. The State has shown a rare courage to go ahead and buy the Vizag steel plant itself if necessary.”
Besides MP Vijayasai Reddy, Muttamsetti Srinivasa Rao, a YSRCP Minister also lashed out at the opposition Telugu Desam Party.
Mr. Rao slammed Nara Chandrababu Naidu, the National President of the TDP, for politicising the VSP issue.
Mr. Rao said, “People of the State, particularly those in Visakhapatnam, are emotionally attached to the VSP and all parties should rise above their political affiliation to fight against the Union Government’s move to sell the plant to a private company. The goal should be to save the plant from being sold and not to politicise it.”
Meanwhile, several TDP leaders and JanaSena Party leaders are agitating against the decision demanding not to privatise the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant.
