It has once again become clear that there is no change in the decision of the Narendra Modi-led government to sell 100% of Visakhapatnam Steel Plant. If anyone criticizes the central government by saying, After giving a recent package of Rs. 11440, the Center is claiming that “We are either privatizing or selling’, there is no room for complacency”.
It has been proven once again that the BJP leaders, along with the TDP and Jana Sena leaders in the alliance, had been cheating the people of the state and the steel workers until a few days ago. Through a public grievance, labor leader Padi Trinadha Rao sought an explanation that “four years ago, the Central Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) had decided to sell 100% of the steel plant as a strategic sale, and what is the latest situation”.
“No change has been made in that decision so far”, the reply came from the Central Government Secretary Ajaru Nagpal. The above response from the Department of Investment and Public Asset Management (DIPAM), which is affiliated to the Union Finance Ministry, has raised concerns among steel workers.
Both the Union Steel Minister and the Minister of State visited the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant a few days ago. They held discussions with workers, employees and officials on several occasions. Union Steel Minister Kumaraswamy said, “There is no question of privatization”.
Union Steel Minister Srinivasa Varma gave free advice to the trade unions to call off the struggle. He assured that everything would be sorted out and that they should be patient. Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu and Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan, along with all the TDP alliance leaders, declared that the Rs. 11,440 crore package coming to the plant was a ‘great victory’ for the alliance and celebrated the victory across the state.
The workers are now realizing how much of a fraud this is. The workers are only now understanding the conditions of the center that this package should not be used except to pay off the debts of the steel plant to banks and to pay taxes. They all fear that preparations are going on behind the scenes to sell Visakhapatnam Steel.
On the other hand, the steel management is not stopping the conspiracies to dismiss contract workers. Salaries are also being paid only sparingly. It does not seem that any of the TDP alliance leaders in the state are taking care of the plant. There are criticisms from the workers that TDP Visakhapatnam MP Sri Bharat, party state president, and Gajuwaka MLA Palla Srinivasa Rao have completely turned a blind eye to steel.