The statement made by Union finance minister Nirmala Sitaraman in Parliament on Monday categorically announcing that the Centre would go ahead with the privatisation of Visakhapatnam Steel Plant under any circumstances has landed the YSR Congress party led by chief minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy in a tight spot.
What has embarrassed the YSRC more was Nirmala Sitaraman’s comments that the Centre was in regular discussions with the Jagan government on the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant privatisation issue.
The statement comes at a time when the YSRC was facing the prestigious elections to the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation and the party is apprehensive that the steel plant privatisation issue might affect its prospects in the elections.
Even as the TDP leaders have begun accusing Jagan of being hand in glove with the Centre on steel plant privatisation issue, the chief minister reacted quickly on Tuesday morning and wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
He said Nirmala Sitharaman’s statement in parliament on 100% disinvestment in the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant along with the company’s equity in all its subsidiaries and joint ventures by way of privatisation was a matter of great concern for the people of Andhra Pradesh, employees of the RINL and other stakeholders.
While reiterating all the suggestions he had made in the previous letter to the Prime Minister on February 6, Jagan requested Modi to give him an appointment to explain all the options before the steel plant, instead of privatisation, to revive and put RINL, Visakhapatnam back on track.
The chief minister also said he would bring an all-party delegation including the representatives of trade unions to represent to the Prime Minister directly the concerns being expressed by the people of Andhra Pradesh, employees and various stakeholders.
“Together, we can revive the plant for unlocking greater value to the society and in particular to the people of Andhra Pradesh,” he said.