Visakhapatnam: Members of the various trade unions and employees of the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant (VSP) took out a rally, demanding withdrawal of proposals to privatise the steel plant, here on Sunday. The protesters were also seeking merger of the RINL, a corporate entity of the VSP, with the Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL).

The protest demonstration kick-started from Old Gajuwaka and after passing through several areas, including New Gajuwaka, concluded at the starting point where a public meeting was organised.

Addressing the gathering, state CITU general secretary Ch. Narasingha Rao, urged the Prime Minister that he should make an announcement during his Visakhapatnam visit that the Union government was withdrawing its decision to privatise the steel plant.

Furthermore, Rao while hitting out at Gautam Adani, chairperson of Adani Group, said that the Union government must take strict action against him as his “financial deals” brought disrepute to the country. He also said that Central and state governments should stop adopting anti-people policies, including workers and farmers, otherwise, it would have serious consequences.

Chairman of the Visakha Ukku Parirakshana Committee, D. Adinarayana and INTUC leader Mantri Rajasekhar urged the state government to put pressure on the Centre to immediately lift the financial restrictions on the VSP.

The salaries were not paid to the contractual workers for the last four months and two months payments were due to the staff on roll, said the Union leaders. Several trade union leaders, including J. Ayodhyaram, K.S.N. Rao, Neerukonda Ramachandra Rao and Varasala Srinivasa Rao, were also present at the meeting.