Andhra Pradesh Congress committee chief YS Sharmila issues ultimatum to Visakhapatnam Steel Plant management

Time of India

19-05-2025

Vijayawada:
Andhra Pradesh Congress
Committee chief
YS Sharmila
Reddy issued an ultimatum to the
Visakhapatnam Steel Plant
management, demanding the immediate reinstatement of 2,000 terminated contract workers by Tuesday. She also called for the payment of pending salaries to regular employees and a rollback of the 2021 privatisation decision.
If the demands are not met, she announced she will begin an '
indefinite hunger strike
' from May 21 in front of the plant. Sharmila accused the management of acting in an autocratic and insensitive manner, saying the Congress party is ready to fight and even sacrifice for the protection of the steel plant and
workers' rights
.
Sharmila accused the plant management of showing no concern for the welfare of the workers, despite an ongoing strike planned from tomorrow.
"The management is acting as if it has no accountability, no humanity," she said, adding that there was a blatant lack of corrective action even as the livelihoods of thousands are at stake.
"The management, which already rendered 2,000 contract workers jobless, is now conspiring to throw another 3,000 onto the streets. This is inhuman and unacceptable," Sharmila alleged. She also condemned the suspension of workers who raised their voices against these injustices, calling it a draconian move aimed at silencing dissent.
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Declaring that the Congress party stands firmly with the workers, Sharmila demanded that the 2,000 terminated contract workers be reinstated without delay. She also urged the management to immediately release the pending salaries of regular employees, which were due for the past eight months.
Reviving the long-standing issue of privatisation, Sharmila demanded that the Centre roll back its January 2021 decision to privatise the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant.
Instead, she insisted that the plant should be merged with the Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) to secure its future.
"If these demands are not met, the Congress party will not hesitate to escalate the agitation. In support of the workers' indefinite strike beginning tomorrow, I will launch an indefinite hunger strike from May 21 right outside the plant premises," she declared.