Trade unions plea to people to oppose privatisation of Visakhapatnam Steel Plant
The Hindu
VUPPC leaders Y. T. Das, D. Adinarayana and Boddu Pydiraju called for further strengthening of the agitation, being organised against privatisation of VSP
Representatives of ESF, ERS and Safety Departments of Visakhapatnam Steel Plant (VSP) and trade unions participated in the 370 th day of the relay fast, being organised under the aegis of the Visakha Ukku Parirakshana Porta Committee (VUPPC), at the Steel Plant arch at Kurmannapalem, in Visakhapatnam on Wednesday.
Addressing the gathering, VUPPC leaders Y. T. Das, D. Adinarayana and Boddu Pydiraju called for further strengthening of the agitation, being organised against privatisation of VSP. They hoped the people would teach a lesson to the BJP government, which, they alleged, was depriving workers of their rights through the sale of Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs). The attack on PSUs and public assets was increasing day by day and the general public should be made aware of the trend.
They felt that the VSP agitation, which has already completed a year, was the right platform to oppose the anti-worker policies of the Centre and to take forward the movement for protection of the public sector.
The election authorities are gearing up for the counting of votes cast in the simultaneous elections to Lok Sabha and Assembly seats in Andhra Pradesh, scheduled to be held on June 4. The Collectors and Election Officers of Visakhapatnam, Anakapalli and Alluri Sitharama Raju (ASR) districts said on May 23 (Thursday) that their teams were ready for the counting of votes.
Responding to the prolonged water scarcity, the residents of the area took to the streets in protest on Wednesday. The protest, which drew attention to their plight, stopped only after the intervention of the police. It was not until 1.30 p.m. that a 4000-litre tanker was finally delivered by BWSSB, providing relief to the water-starved residents.