Latest news with #YSSharmilaReddy
New Indian Express
22-05-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
BJP government killing Vizag steel plant silently, alleges APCC president YS Sharmila
VIJAYAWADA: APCC chief YS Sharmila Reddy accused the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre of systematically undermining Visakhapatnam Steel Plant (VSP), established by the Congress government, which was once a profit-making entity. Sharmila, who staged a hunger strike at VSP in Visakhapatnam on Wednesday, alleged that the BJP was employing a 'silent killing' strategy to weaken the steel plant, likening it to the proverb of driving a dog mad to justify its killing. She claimed that the government was deliberately starving the plant of raw materials, raising export prices to burden it, and denying it a dedicated iron ore mine, despite Congress' earlier plans to provide one. The APCC chief denounced the government's claim of rescuing the plant with Rs 11,000 crore as a falsehood, alleging that Rs 8,000 crore was reclaimed as bank loans, and the remaining Rs 3,000 crore was tied to a condition to lay off 5,000 workers. Already, 2,000 workers have been sacked, with plans to remove 3,000 more, reducing the workforce from 34,000 to half, she charged.
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.
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
26-04-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Pahalgam attack is failure of security system, says APCC chief Sharmila Reddy
VIJAYAWADA: Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) chief YS Sharmila Reddy strongly condemned the terrorist attack on tourists at Pahalgam of Jammu and Kashmir, describing it as a direct assault on the nation, and a glaring failure of security apparatus. Speaking at a candlelight rally organised by the APCC in Vijayawada on Friday evening to pay tributes to the victims, Sharmila highlighted the negligence behind the incident, noting that the Army failed to respond even after the attack, which claimed 26 lives, including three Telugu people. Earlier, addressing the media after the State-level meeting of the party, Sharmila criticised the BJP for attempting to frame the attack as a religious conflict, alleging that the party and its affiliates, including the RSS, were building a narrative of a 'Hindu-Muslim divide' despite the presence of Muslim victims.
