Sharmila accuses TDP-JSP-BJP combine of crippling Vizag Steel Plant

Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) president Y. S. Sharmila on Friday accused the TDP-led coalition government of weakening the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant to pave the way for its privatisation.

Speaking at a press conference in Vijayawada, Sharmila pointed out that on August 16, Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited (RINL), the steel plant’s corporate entity, issued 44 Expressions of Interest (EOIs) for the operations and maintenance of several key departments. She claimed that the move was part of a backdoor plan by the Centre to privatise the plant.

Ms. Sharmila alleged that by reducing the workforce from 35,000 during the YSR Congress Party rule to 20,000, the Narendra Modi government was deliberately pushing RINL into losses to acquire assets worth ₹4 lakh crore. She also criticised the TDP and Jana Sena Party chief Pawan Kalyan, who had previously vowed to protect the steel plant, for remaining silent and tacitly supporting the Union government.

Turning to the YSRCP, she called its protests ‘hypocritical,’ noting that the party took no action in 2021 when privatisation was first announced. She accused Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu of prioritising Mr. Modi’s image over the self-respect of the Telugu people.

Referring to her uncle Y. S. Vivekananda’s murder case, Sharmila supported his daughter Sunitha’s call for a reinvestigation. She alleged that there was evidence against Avinash Reddy but claimed that the CBI was shielding the accused under Mr. Modi’s influence.