‘The backbone of the nation is the center intent on destroying the public sector’
CPI National Secretary D. Raja has said that the long struggle of the workers of Visakhapatnam Steel Plant (VSP) is very important as saving VSP will pave the way to save other PSUs of the country.
Mr. Raja was in the city to attend the party’s state-level convention on Friday.
The CPI leader met VSP workers who have been on a continuous hunger strike for nearly 240 days at Kurmannapalem here under the aegis of the Visakha Ukku Parikrakshana Porata Committee, protesting the cabinet’s decision on the strategic sale of the plant.
Addressing the workers, Mr. Raja attacked the “anti-labour, anti-farmer and anti-people policies” of the Modi government, and described it as a government “for corporates and corporates” as it was bent on the government. Destroying the public sector, which he called “the backbone of our nation”.
‘Modern Temple’
Heavy industries were established during the tenure of former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, who described them as “modern temples”.
Similarly, public sector banks were asked to lend huge amounts to the corporate sector, and private promoters were becoming “willful defaulters”, causing losses to the banks, Mr. Raja said.
Recalling that public sector banks were responsible for saving India during the global economic crisis in 2008, he said that the Center had recently announced a national monetization policy, which could have disastrous consequences for the nation.
Farmers’ movement in UP
Referring to the alleged harvesting of farmers in Uttar Pradesh, Mr. Raja said that it is unfortunate that no dissent is being allowed against the government.
He alleged that the farmers had been demanding the repeal of agricultural laws for more than 10 months, but the central government did not care.
Recalling his visit to Gangavaram port in the past, Mr. Raja alleged that the Center is now in the process of handing it over to the Adani group. Similarly, airports were being handed over to “crony capitalists”, Mr. Raja alleged.
‘Unity is the need of the hour’
He called upon all political parties and trade unions of Andhra Pradesh to unite against the “disastrous policies of the Modi government” which would spell doom for the country. He hoped that the united struggle would force the Center to reverse its decision on the VSP.
Porata committee leader D. Adinarayana, ministers Rajasekhar, J. Ayodhya Ram, Gandham Venkata Rao, K. Satyanarayana Rao, A. Masen Rao, J. Ramakrishna, Gangavaram Gopi, and Neerukonda Ramachandra Rao, and corporator AJ Stalin were present.
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