Published: Published – 07:32 PM, Sun – 11/20
Visakhapatnam: Speakers at the “Save Visakhapatnam Steel Mills” conference here on Sunday pointed out that it is unconstitutional for the government to run businesses, but unfortunately they are disregarding the welfare of the people for public sector businesses.
Addressing poets, journalists, artists and union leaders at a conference organized by the Writers’ Academy, former MP Vundavalli Arun Kumar pointed out that people have the right to use natural resources and the Visakhapatnam steel plant, which was built after a massive What was built after struggle and sacrifice should continue in the public sector. Modi believed in capitalism and would sell everything if given the chance, he said. He claims that the BJP perpetuates the RSS ideology and works to expel Muslims, Christians and socialists.
“They say the steel mills will stay here. But if there is a change in management, then the people are bound to leave. How can they show land worth hundreds of crores as mere Rs. 500 crore on their balance sheet?” he wonders , and argues that 60 to 70 percent of workers’ earnings are pumped back to the government. He urged people’s representatives to question the government on this and demand that regulations be changed to benefit the working class. He also sees the need to intensify the campaign to prevent the privatization of the Visakhapatnam steel plant.
Arun Kunmar suggested that the state government step in to take over the steel mill and run it like neighboring states.
Lakshminarayana, a former co-director of the CBI, recalled that the Visakhapatnam steel works supplied steel for the statue of Sardar Vallabhai Patel, the construction of a tunnel in Jammu and Kashmir, and the housing project of Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojna. He said he even filed a public interest lawsuit in court against the privatization of the steel mill, while the government dragged its feet in filing a countersuit.
