Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu’s aggressive comments a couple of days ago against the workers of Visakhapatnam Steel Plant who were agitating against the privatisation of the steel plant evoked strong protests from the trade unions as well as the opposition YSR Congress party.
Naidu made the strong comments while briefing the media after the conclusion of the Partnership Summit at Visakhapatnam.
He lost his cool to a question on why his government was ignoring the attempt to privatise the steel plant, while extending liberal incentives to private companies.
The chief minister said the workers should focus on working hard and improving productivity of the Vizag steel plant, rather than hitting the roads with protests and agitations.
“We did extensive lobbying with the Centre and brought a revival package of Rs 12,000 crore. We also got the electricity dues to the extent of Rs 2,000 crore converted into equity, besides foregoing water charges. What more can I do? I made it clear that the steel plant doesn’t get privatised, if it is back on profit-making. You must understand that, instead of blaming the government,” he said.
YSR Congress party described Naidu’s comments as “backstabbing politics.”
Party’s Visakhapatnam district president KK Raju said Chandrababu Naidu supported the privatisation of the steel plant purely to secure his son’s political future, calling it an “unforgivable betrayal of Uttarandhra.”
He accused Chandrababu Naidu and Pawan Kalyan of deceiving people with false promises before elections and now shifting blame onto the workers after their investment summit collapsed.
Raju said Chandrababu’s frustration over the failure of the CII summit is being unfairly directed at steel plant employees, while the CM simultaneously eyes the plant’s multi-thousand-crore prime lands just as he has already parcelled out valuable lands across Uttarandhra to his associates.
Raju said the coalition promised that a “double-engine government” would secure captive mines and prevent privatisation, but today the same leaders are silent as privatisation speeds ahead.
He accused Chandrababu of speaking with contempt toward workers by calling the plant a “white elephant” and blaming employees for losses, even though thousands of farmers gave their lands and 32 people sacrificed their lives to bring the plant into existence.
Raju said that if Chandrababu truly had no hidden deals with the Centre, he should immediately announce withdrawal of support to the NDA until privatisation is stopped, the Centre would be forced to respond, he said.
