Naidu, Pawan cannot succeed in A.P. if they fail to stop privatisation of Vizag steel plant, says former MLC

Former MLC MVS Sarma warns Naidu and Pawan Kalyan to protect Visakhapatnam Steel Plant from privatization or face consequences.

Former MLC M.V.S. Sarma has said that Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and Deputy Chief Minister K. Pawan Kalyan may not achieve anything in the State if they cannot protect the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant (VSP) from being privatised.

Participating in a programme marking the conclusion of the three-day relay hunger fast organised under the aegis of Visakhapatnam district People’s and Labour Unions’ Joint Action Committee against VSP privatisation, at the Mahatma Gandhi statue opposite the GVMC administrative building in Visakhapatnam on October 3 (Thursday), he described the move as a “conspiracy of the Central government” led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

“Former Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, during his tenure, could not influence the Centre on the issue. Now, Mr. Naidu and Mr. Pawan Kalyan have got a chance to prove their mettle. More importantly, they have an alliance with the BJP. If they fail to protect the steel plant, there will be no success of their governance in Andhra Pradesh,” said Mr. Sarma.

He praised the women activists for participating in the protest.

Recalling that prohibition of liquor in the State was possible because of women’s protests, he said that the role of women’s unions was vital in the protest against VSP privatisation.

“Many public sector units were protected due to protests. Be it stopping bauxite mining in the Agency, merger of Hindustan Shipyard with the Defence sector instead of privatisation or BHPV-BHEL merger, protests played a major role. The VSP will be protected only if the people unite and fight against the power that be,” he said.

Meanwhile, AIDWA State president B. Prabhavathi demanded that the TDP and Jana Sena Party (JSP) put pressure on the Centre to save the VSP, adding that the ruling parties would face severe consequences if they failed to do so.