Sharmila vows to save steel plant from privatisation, get captive mines
Congress will give Special Category Status to State within 10 days of Rahul Gandhi becoming the Prime Minister she says
Andhra Pradesh Congress president Y.S. Sharmila on Saturday announced that the Congress is committed to save Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited (RINL), the corporate entity of Visakhapatnam Steel Plant, from privatisation. She said that the party was committed to the declaration that was made in the presence of the public at the ‘Visakha UkkuTelugodi Hakku’ held at Trishna Grounds in Visakhapatnam Steel Plant premises in Ukkunagaram, here on Saturday. Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy was present as the chief guest.
Ms. Sharmila said that meeting was organised on the steel plant premises to tell the public about the party’s stand after the BJP decided to privatise the steel plant only to get the valuable 35,000 acres of land owned by it. Unfortunately, her brother Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, who ruled the State for five years, also supported the BJP’s decision , she alleged. Ms. Sharmila alleged that both Mr. Chandrababu Naidu and Mr. Jagan worked for BJP and never worked for the people of the State.
“However, on behalf of the Congress, I assure you all that once the party comes to power at the Centre, we will take action against the privatisation of steel plant and bring captive mines to the plant. This apart, the Congress will also give Special Category Status to Andhra Pradesh within 10 days after Rahul Gandhi is elected as the Prime Minister,” said Ms. Sharmila.
Earlier, senior leaders N. Raghuveera Reddy, M.M. Pallam Raju and Jesudasu Seelam spoke. The meeting was presided over by Gidugu Rudraraju, former president of the State Congress party.
A large number of party workers, leaders of RINL Steel Plant and leaders from the CPI and the CPI (M) spoke.