For Favour of Publication

February 23, 2021

For Favour of Publication

We are herewith releasing the full text of the letter written by CPI General Secretary Shri D. RAJA to Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi requesting him to withdraw move to privatize Vishakapatnam Steel Plant.

S/d

Roykutty

Office Secretary

******

New Delhi,

February 23, 2021

To,

Shri Narendra Modi,

Hon’ble Prime Minister,

Government of India,

South Block, New Delhi.

Sub: Request to Withdraw Move to Privatize Vishakapatnam Steel Plant - Regarding

Dear Prime Minister Modi ji,

We request you to reconsider your government’s decision to privatize Vishakapatnam Steel Plant.

We strongly oppose the disastrous proposal of your government to implement 100 per cent strategic disinvestment in Visakhapatnam Steel Plant (RINL) by way of privatization. Visakhapatnam Steel Plant is a Navaratna company under the Ministry of Steel, Government of India.

Over 50 years ago, 23,000 acres of farm land were acquired to set up the steel plant. Farmers were not paid their money properly. Now the land is worth lakhs of crores of rupees. If the present move is allowed, a private company will take over the steel plant and grab the land.

The government has made no effort to explore all possibilities to run the steel plant. No iron-ore mine has been allotted to the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant. All private steel plants get iron-ore mines. Lakhs of people are directly and indirectly working for the steel plant.

People of Andhra Pradesh, political parties and trade unions have been opposing the disastrous move of privatization.

Even the state government headed by Jagan Mohan Reddy, pointing out that the plant stands as a testimony to the will of the Telugu people has asked the Union government to reconsider its decision.

While opposing the privatization of the steel plant, our Party - the Communist Party of India demands that the government should cancel the approval of the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs for privatization of the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant and immediately allot iron-ore mines.

With kind regards,

Yours sincerely,

S/d

D. RAJA

General Secretary