Amaravati: Andhra Pradesh Congress President Sharmila has strongly criticized the central government for its approach to the state’s steel plants. She pointed out that while the central government allocated significant funds to the Karnataka Steel Plant, which employs 243 people, it has shown no interest in supporting the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant, which provides employment to 26,000 workers.
Sharmila stated that the JDS, represented by two MPs, of securing Rs. 15,000 crores for the central government, while TDP and Janasena parties, which have supported the NDA, continue to appease the center.
She further criticized Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu for engaging in discussions with the Prime Minister about Mittal Steel, while workers at the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant have been protesting for over 1,400 days demanding support. Sharmila questioned the fairness of requesting that Mittal’s proposed plant have unrestricted access to iron ore, asking, “How is this just?”
The Congress leader reiterated the party’s demand for the merger of Visakhapatnam Steel Plant with SAIL (Steel Authority of India Limited) and urged TDP and Janasena to exit the NDA if justice is not provided to the steel plant.
