CM Chandrababu should apologise for insulting VSP workers

Visakhapatnam, Nov 17: YSRCP State Official Spokesperson Konda Rajeev Gandhi strongly criticised Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu for calling the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant (VSP) a “white elephant” and claiming that its workers were “sitting at home and asking for salaries.” He said such comments were deeply insulting to thousands of hardworking employees who have contributed immensely to the state and the nation.
Rajeev said Chandrababu must immediately apologise to the steel plant workers and take firm steps to stop any moves toward privatisation. Otherwise, he warned, the Chief Minister would go down in history as someone who betrayed Andhra Pradesh.
He explained that the steel plant played a major role in the development of North Andhra and helped transform Visakhapatnam into a major industrial city. Chandrababu’s remarks, he said, were aimed at justifying a privatisation plan already being pushed by the coalition government. He added that before elections, Chandrababu promised workers that he would protect the plant, but after coming to power, he changed his stance completely.
Rajeev criticised Chandrababu for staying indoors during the COVID-19 crisis while steel plant workers risked their lives to produce oxygen for the country. He said the previous YS Jagan government successfully stalled privatisation for five years, but the situation worsened immediately after the coalition took charge.
He questioned why workers are not being paid, why contract workers are being removed and why the plant is being split into 32 units for sale. Rajeev said the Chief Minister must clearly state what he intends to do to save (VSP).