K.S. Lakshmana Rao, a former Member of Legislative Council and current State President of Jan Vignana Vedika, delivered a passionate plea on Tuesday, urging the public to stand firm against the ongoing efforts to privatize the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant (VSP). He emphasized the critical need to prevent the plant from being dismantled and sold off in parts to private companies.
During a significant roundtable discussion in Vijayawada, hosted by various community organizations led by the Visakha Ukku Parirakshana Porata Committee (Visakha Steel Plant Protection Struggle Committee), Mr. Lakshmana Rao explicitly demanded the immediate cancellation of all Expressions of Interest (EOI) related to VSP’s privatization. He further implored the Andhra Pradesh government to exert substantial pressure on the Central government to withdraw its privatization plans.
Echoing this sentiment, farmer leader V. Keshava Rao expressed unwavering solidarity, promising the full support of the farming community to the workers’ valiant struggle.
Ch. Narasinga Rao, the CITU State Secretary, sharply criticized the Central government, accusing the BJP-led administration of aggressively pushing privatization, allegedly with the tacit support of the state’s coalition government. He highlighted a serious concern: the ₹11,440 crores originally earmarked for the plant’s revitalization were, in his view, improperly redirected to settle bank debts rather than being invested in production, development initiatives, or the well-being of the workers.
In a strong condemnation, he denounced the ‘forcible’ removal of 5,000 contract workers from the plant, demanding their immediate reinstatement. Additionally, he called for guaranteed employment for the families who were displaced to make way for the steel plant.
R. Ravindranath, President of AITUC, joined the chorus of criticism, accusing the Centre of relentlessly pursuing privatization while simultaneously claiming the state government was misleading the public by denying any such plans. To galvanize widespread opposition, he declared an upcoming statewide bus yatra aimed at mobilizing public resistance.
INTUC Secretary Kranti Kumar specifically demanded the urgent allocation of captive iron ore mines to VSP, arguing that this would prevent favoritism towards private entities like Mittal Industries.
The impactful meeting, presided over by D. Adinarayana, Chairman of the struggle committee, concluded with a firm resolution. Participants vowed to intensify protests until all privatization plans are fully abandoned, captive mines are definitively secured for VSP, all EOI bids are nullified, unjustly dismissed contract workers are reinstated, and any actions targeting employees cease.
Furthermore, the leaders collectively decided to press the TDP-led coalition government in the state to actively lobby the Central government to halt its privatization agenda. They also committed to organizing extensive protests throughout the state.
The roundtable saw broad participation from a diverse array of leaders representing trade unions, farmers’ associations, women’s groups, and student and youth organizations, highlighting the widespread concern across society.