Latest news with #VisakhapatnamSteelPlant
Hans India
a day ago
- Politics
- Hans India
Coalition govt flayed for failure to implement ‘Super Six' promises
Vijayawada: APCC president YS Sharmila Reddy on Wednesday lambasted the one-year rule of the TDP-led alliance, labeling it a 'Day of public deception' rather than a true reflection of the people's mandate. She asserted that Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu's administration has twisted the public's revolutionary verdict, which a year ago today brought the alliance to power to end 'Insane, corrupt, and anarchic rule.' Addressing the media, Sharmila accused the government of squandering a year under the guise of 'Reconstruction,' misleading the public with empty promises of 'Setting things right.' 'They put cauliflowers in our ears by saying they were putting things back on track,' she remarked, criticising the government's failure to deliver on its 'Super Six' guarantees. 'They sidelined development citing debt and neglected public welfare by claiming lack of funds,' she charged. Sharmila also pointed to the increased electricity bills, which she said pierced holes in people's pockets. The APCC chief highlighted the government's perceived inaction on key issues, stating, 'There is no accountability for the promises made during bifurcation. Special Category Status was not even requested.' She further criticised the government for remaining silent when the Central government led by the BJP reduced the height of the Polavaram project, calling it a betrayal. Referring to the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant, Sharmila said, 'They promised to revive the Visakha Steel Plant but instead terminated the jobs of 4,000 workers.' She also accused the government of causing 'irreparable injustice' to Muslims by supporting the Waqf Bill. 'Today is not Public Verdict Day. It is 'Andhra Pradesh Public Deception Day,' Sharmila declared. She squarely placed the blame on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu and Deputy Chief Minister K Pawan Kalyan, asserting, 'It is the day Modi, Babu, and Pawan deceived the people of the State in the name of trust.' Sharmila Reddy also took a jab at YSRCP chief Jagan Mohan Reddy. She criticised Jagan Mohan Reddy's actions, stating, 'While Chandrababu Naidu has been backstabbing the people for a year by not implementing the Super Six guarantees, showing false hopes of heaven, and telling fabricated stories instead of implementing schemes, Jagan, by not going to the Assembly to question public issues, not raising his voice on alliance promises, and demanding opposition status through house press meets, is also a backstabber.'
Hans India
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
In support of VSP workers, Sharmila launchers indefinite hunger strike
Visakhapatnam: There is no point in giving up hunger strike until 2,000 contract workers are reinstated, underlined AP Congress Committee (APCC) chief YS Sharmila Reddy. Launching an indefinite hunger strike to extend support to Visakhapatnam Steel Plant (VSP) workers strike at the relay hunger strike camp here on Wednesday, Sharmila said that until justice was meted out to the workers, she is not going to step back from the hunger strike. Already, she warned the government to reinstate 2,000 contract workers, who were removed from work recently and issued an ultimatum to the plant management in this regard. However, as there was no response from the management so far, she reached the hunger strike camp located at Kurmannapalem in Visakhapatnam and commenced the hunger strike. She was accompanied by trade union leaders and employees as they welcomed her intervention in the issue. Speaking on the occasion, the APCC chief alleged that the BJP government is gradually killing the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant. 'They are laying off jobs, conspiring to block the supply of raw materials and increasing export prices to put a financial burden on the VSP,' she alleged, recalling that during the Congress rule, the idea was to allocate its own captive mines to the VSP. The APCC chief mentioned that it is a lie that the steel plant was supported by the Central government. Sharmila lamented that Rs.8,000 crore were taken back in the garb bank loans after allocating a revival package of Rs.11,000 crore. She also pointed out that there is a condition to release another Rs.3,000 crore, if a total of 5,000 employees will be removed from the plant. Further, APCC chief alleged that the TDP and Jana Sena Party government could not fulfil its promises made during election campaign. She accused the political parties for utilising the VSP issue for political purposes. 'Why are they not stopping the workers from being laid off?' the APCC chief questioned the AP government. Sharmila Reddy warned the Central government that the Congress party would not tolerate if the VSP is privatised. She demanded that the laid-off workers should be reinstated with immediate effect.
India Gazette
21-05-2025
- Politics
- India Gazette
APCC President YS Sharmila launches hunger strike in Visakhapatnam over mass termination of Steel Plant workers
Visakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh) [India], May 21 (ANI): Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) President YS Sharmila on Wednesday sat on a hunger strike in support of Visakhapatnam Steel Plant (VSP) workers. Sharmila alleged that around 2,000 contract workers were dismissed without proper procedure or justification. She further claimed that until 2014, the VSP was a profitable enterprise, generating Rs 1,000 crore in profit, but it now faces a debt of Rs 28,000 crore. Speaking to reporters, YS Sharmila said, 'Andhra Pradesh Congress is here in Visakhapatnam Steel. We are going on an indefinite hunger strike because the management of VSP has terminated 2000 employees without any cause or proper procedure. The reason behind this is to kill this plant... Until 2014, this plant yielded a profit of Rs 1000 crores, but now, it stands on a debt of Rs 28000 crores...' She further alleged that the central government released the remaining instalment of an Rs 11,000 crore package conditional on terminating 5,000 workers. 'The central government has laid a condition to terminate 5000 employees; only then will they release the remaining instalment of the Rs 11000 crore package. 2000 employees have already been terminated and they are in the process of terminating another 3000... These 2000 contract workers in the steel plant are the ones who gave up their land for the steel plant. These employees have been working here for 10-20 years... This hunger strike will go on till the terminated employees are reinstated,' Sharmila said. She said the hunger strike will continue until the dismissed employees are reinstated. Earlier, Congress Party leader YS Sharmila issued a stern ultimatum to the management of Visakhapatnam Steel Plant, accusing them of authoritarianism and neglecting workers' grievances. In a post on X, Sharmila condemned the management's 'arrogant' stance as workers prepare for a strike starting tomorrow, demanding justice. (ANI)
Time of India
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Andhra Pradesh Congress committee chief YS Sharmila issues ultimatum to Visakhapatnam Steel Plant management
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. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like If you have a mouse, play this game for 1 minute Navy Quest Undo 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.
New Indian Express
05-05-2025
- Business
- New Indian Express
VSP trade unions to go on 24-hour strike on May 20
VISAKHAPATNAM: The joint forum of all trade unions at Visakhapatnam Steel Plant (VSP) has issued a formal strike notice to the Chairperson and Managing Director of Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited (RINL), proposing to go on a 24-hour strike beginning at 6 am on May 20. The notice, served under Section 22(1) of the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947, was also marked to the Regional Labour Commissioner (Central), Ministry of Labour, Visakhapatnam. The unions have presented a comprehensive charter of demands, pressing the management, and the Centre to withdraw the proposed strategic sale of RINL. The key demands include the allotment of captive iron ore mines to RINL, the merger of RINL with the Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL), and ensuring raw material availability before the re- commencement of Blast Furnace-3 operations. They also demanded a revival plan that includes improving upstream and downstream facilities to run the plant at full capacity. Among the major workforce-related demands are the immediate implementation of revised wages, regular monthly payment of full salaries, restoration of House Rent Allowance (HRA) with retrospective effect, and a halt to the termination of contract workers. The unions also called for the reinstatement of welfare measures that were withdrawn by the management.
