Protests against VSP privatisation gain heat at Vizag and New Delhi

With the Centre deciding to go ahead with the privatisation of the Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Ltd (RINL), which is the public sector corporate of Vizag Steel Plant (VSP), the protests against the decision have gained heat at the Mahatma Gandhi statue near the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) office. The Visakhapatnam Mayor, GVMC corporators, and various people from the city are protesting in chorus to save the steel plant. Almost everyone is chanting ”Visakha Ukku Andhrula Hakku” unanimously.

The protests have also extended to Jantar Mantar in Delhi. Protesters took to the Delhi streets with placards that read out “Save Vizag Steel” and “Stop RINL Strategic Sale”.The protests in Delhi will continue till tomorrow. 

Citizens also took to Twitter to voice their agitation with hashtags #VisakhaUkkuAndhrulaHakku and #VizagSteel2Delhi. The protests against the privatisation of VSP are being supported by various political leaders and the police force has been deployed at the venue in Vizag. 

VSP was established in 1988 after a persistent ‘Visakha Ukku, Andhra Hakku’ Movement which demanded that a major industry in the State be established so unemployment could be curbed. As many as 32 people were killed during this movement. After research, it was then decided that Visakhapatnam, which is a coastal city, is apt for a shore-based steel plant. 

As of today, almost one lakh people depend on the steel plant for their livelihood with a majority of them being permanent and contract workers. It also still stands as the biggest Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) in the state. 

Here’s a timeline of events to better understand the VSP privatisation issue.