KCR achieved victory in preventing privatization of Vizag Steel Plant, says Harish Rao

HYDERABAD: Finance Minister T Harish Rao here on Thursday said Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao achieved victory in protecting the interests of employees of Vizag Steel Factory after the Union Minister of State for Steel, Faggan Singh Kulaste, announced that the Central government would take necessary steps to strengthen the factory rather than privatizing it.

Addressing party activists during ‘Atmeeya Sammelanam’ in Vikarabad, he accused the Centre of attempting to privatize the factory and rendering injustice to as many as 27,000 workers. However, the Chief Minister stood firm and said the BRS would save the factory from being privatized.

After the Chief Minister’s sustained efforts, the Union Minister announced that it would focus on strengthening the factory.

The BRS would continue its fight against the Centre till it started the process of strengthening the factory. “It’s the victory of Chandrashekhar Rao, BRS and the people of AP. It is also the victory of the workers who are observing a hunger strike in Visakhapatnam,” he said.

Extending congratulations to the people of Andhra Pradesh, he said the BRS would fight if anyone attempts to do injustice to the working class

KCR’s public meeting in Vizag

BRS AP president Thota Chandrashekhar said the party achieved the first victory in the State by forcing the Central government to make an announcement in favour of the steel factory. Expressing grief over the death of 32 workers who lost their life while taking part in the strike, he said the livelihood of as many as five lakh people were dependent on the factory.

Telangana Chief Minister was strongly opposing the privatization of the steel plant, since the beginning. He was also against handing over national resources to certain people in the country. Referring to the remarks made against Harish Rao by the Andhra Pradesh Ministers, he said the people of AP were eagerly waiting to accept Chandrashekhar Rao as their leader to resolve their problems.

A massive public meeting would be organized with Telangana Chief Minister in Visakhapatnam shortly.

Meanwhile, Energy Minister G Jagdish Reddy said the BRS would continue to oppose any privatization move by the Central government. He also found fault with the AP Ministers for making remarks against Harish Rao.