Reiterating that it opposes privatization of Visakhapatnam Steel Plant (VSP) and will draft an action plan to take forward the fight, YSRCP has exposed the dichotomy of coalition leadership on the issue and their turnaround after being elected.
Former YSRCP minister Gudivada Amarnath wondered that the coalition leadership, which has vehemently opposed privatization of VSP, have been maintaining stoic silence on the issue after coming to power, even as the retrenchment and VRS to employees are continuing. He recalled that former Chief Minister YS Jaganmohan Reddy, during electioneering on the other hand, has categorically stated that every vote for the coalition is a vote for privatization.
Now, he said that YSRCP chief’s words have come true with private players with police escort taking a tour of the 32 Departments which are on offer for privatization.
He played the electioneering clips of Chandrababu Naidu, Pawan Kalyan, and Rammohan Naidu, who in high decibels spoke against the privatization but conveniently forget the issue on one hand, and the video clip of former Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, who strongly stated YSRCP’s stand against the privatization.
Amarnath recalled that their stance was acknowledged even by Union Minister Kumaraswamy, who admitted that though the Centre had taken a decision of disinvestment, YS Jaganmohan Reddy’s government’s resolution in the state assembly led to stop the move. He deplored that now efforts are on to privatize VSP, and employees are being forcibly shown the door.
He lamented that though now Visakha city is being used by Chandrababu Naidu, Lokesh, and Pawan Kalyan for hosting events and getting publicity, the plight of VSP employees are never discussed. They need Vizag for events and for payments, it’s always Amaravati, he added.
Whenever there is a crisis, the former minister alleges that the coalition government raises the issue of Rushikonda Resort, and its publicity mechanism goes hyperactive. From the Chief Minister down to the coalition cadre, he said that everyone comes to Vizag, and the Resort has become a tourist spot and a punching bag with remarks targeting YCP leadership and calling its Rushikond Palace of YS Jaganmohan Reddy.
He recalled that while in the recent GO issued, appointing a Group of Ministers (GoM) for its utilization, it was mentioned that Rushikonda Resort, calling their bluff. Stating that a broken piece of the false ceiling of the resort was shown time and again after Pawan Kalyan’s visit, but showing the visuals he accused that the poor condition of the Secretariat built at exorbitant rates by Chandrababu Naidu was ignored.
