The employees of the iconic Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited, known as the Vizag Steel Plant, have been fighting with tooth and nail from the past four years to stop the disinvestment plans of the central government. Despite repeated assurances from the current dispensation in Andhra Pradesh led by Chandrababu Naidu, the administrative developments instilled fears in the employees that the union government is moving ahead with its plans to privatize the plan. So, they have been waging a war in the form of protests to stop the move.
Recently, there were reports that the Centre has decided to merge Vizag Steel Plant into SAIL to revive its operations through supply of iron ore and other raw materials and also to provide financial assistance to save the workers. However, the removal of 4000 contract employees raged the employees unions and widespread protests were undertaken with immediate effect. Even political leaders from Congress party at the centre also attacked the BJP government to withdraw its plans to privatize the plan.
Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal alleged that the termination of contract employees is a precursor to privatize the plant and hand over to corporate sector.
Reacting strongly on these allegations, Union Minister for Steel HD Kumaraswamy took to X and said the idea to privatize the plan is far from truth. He also asserted that the contract employees have immediately been reinstated after his intervention and also assured that the government will standby the employees.
He posted “Stop trying to politicise the issue for the sake of petty and vote bank politics. You are rather misinformed as you have raked up this issue despite it being resolved to stoke tensions. The RINL management has also clarified that around 3,700 contract labour passes were cancelled and that they are working to restore the passes in the online system soon. The biometric database of the workers will also be reinstated. During discussions, all parties have agreed to maintain the existing gate pass system along with the necessary facilities”
He added “I have also visited the Vizag steel plant after taking over as the minister for steel and heavy industries, after holding discussions with the people’s representatives, officials and workers it has been promised that all their concerns and problems will be looked into after holding discussions with the PM @narendramodi Ji and Finance Minister @nsitharaman Ji. Your baseless allegations that the NDA government is trying to sell off the Vizag steel plant is far from the truth”.