The agitation by the workers of Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited (RINL), also known as Visakhapatnam Steel Plant, is getting massive support from various quarters.
Swamy Swaroopanandendra Saraswati of Sarada Peetham in Visakhapatnam, who has been quietly watching the agitation for the last 40 days, opened up on Thursday and condemned the attempts of the Centre to privatise the Visakhpatnam Steel Plant.
Speaking at a function at the Ramakrishna Beach organised by Sri Lalitha Kala Peetham headed by former MP T Subbarami Reddy, Swaroopanandendra and his disciple Swatmanandendra declared that they would strongly oppose the privatisation of the steel plant.
“It is highly objectionable. We shall not allow the Centre to privatise the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant. It is an issue of sentiment for the Telugu people,” the Sarada Peetham seer said.
Interestingly, megastar of Tollywood and former Union minister K Chiranjeevi, who has been staying away from political statements for the last five years, has also reacted strongly to the move to privatise the steel plant.
He issued a statement on Wednesday night stating that the steel plant was the result of the agitation by millions of Telugu people and the loss of 32 lives.
“Let’s raise above parties and regions. With a steely resolve, let’s save Visakha Steel plant!” he tweeted.