Save Visakha Steel Plant or withdraw support to Modi government, Sharmila tells Naidu

APCC president accuses Modi govt of neglecting Visakha Steel plant, demands merger with SAIL for revival.

Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) president Y. S. Sharmila on Thursday accused the Narendra Modi government at the Centre of feeding people of Andhra Pradesh with lies with claims of reviving the Visakha Steel plant.

The State Congress chief posted on X alleging that attempts were on to debilitate the steel plant “as part of a conspiracy to sell it to Modi’s friends at dirt cheap price.” She said even while claiming that there were no plans to privatise the plant, the Centre continued to neglect it without providing any financial aid.

She said in Karnataka, which was represented by Union Steel Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy, funds to the tune of ₹15,000 crore were provided as assistance to save the Karnataka Steel Plant, which employed just 243 people, while the Visakha Steel Plant was meted a raw deal, ignoring the fact that it employed 26,000 people. “The JD(S) with just two MPs, has secured ₹15,000 crore for Karnataka Steel, while the TDP and the Jana Sena Party, which are supporting the NDA government at the Centre with their 18 MPs, do not have the spine to take up Visakha Steel Plant issue,” she said.

Ms. Sharmila also found fault with Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu for discussing about setting up a new plant with Mittal Steel and ensuring iron ore supply to it, instead of making a firm demand on revival of the Visakha Steel Plant.

She said the Congress demanded merger of the Visakha Steel Plant into SAIL, immediate steps to start production of 7 million tonnes immediately and expansion of the plant’s future capacity to 20 million tonnes. Ms. Sharmila said should the Centre neglect or turn down these demands, the TDP and its ally Jana Sena Party should withdraw their support to the NDA coalition government at the Centre.