Strongly oppose privatisation of Visakha Steel Plant , Lokesh urges CM Jagan

Amaravati: TDP national general secretary and MLC Nara Lokesh on Friday demanded the Jagan Mohan Reddy government oppose the privatisation of the prestigious Visakha Steel Plant (VSP) as it was considered a matter of pride for all Andhras.

Lokesh also demanded the ruling YSRCP to pass a resolution in the State Assembly that the AP government would buy the steel plant. When a similar situation arose in Chhattisgarh, its government passed a unanimous resolution in their Assembly to buy the Nagarnar Steel Plant.

In a letter sent to Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy here, Lokesh said that the Visakha Steel was incurring losses only because it had no captive iron ore mines of its own. Hence, the YSRCP government should immediately seek the Centre to allot an iron ore mine exclusively for the Visakha Steel.

There were projections which indicated that by 2032, the Vizag Steel Plant would emerge as the largest steel producing company in the entire country.

Lokesh accused the Jagan Reddy government of doing historic injustice to the people of North Andhra by playing a 'dubious role' in the issue of the Visakha Steel.

During his tenure, former Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu fought until the then Central government withdrew such a privatisation move in 2000, he recalled.

The Visakha Steel stood as a symbol of self-respect for the Andhras who had waged a relentless agitation for the same in the past. Very unfortunately, Jagan Reddy was not even opening his mouth on the emotive issue in his capacity as the Chief Minister, rued Lokesh.

Both Jagan Reddy and YSRCP MP V Vijayasai have now turned out to be 'betrayers of North Andhra people, he said.

The TDP would not keep silent and it would protect the steel plant. Everybody would fight by chanting the slogan 'Visakha Ukku Andhrula Hakku' (Visakha Steel a right of Andhras).