The reported decision of the Bharat Rashtra Samithi-led state government to bid on the Vizag Steel Plant (VCP) through its Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL) has caused controversy in both Telugu states. The YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) government in Andhra Pradesh has come under attack from opposition parties for doing nothing to stop the privatisation of the VSP, while opposition in Telangana questioned the KCR government’s move to use funds of Telangana in another state.
Telangana BJP President Bandi Sanjay Kumar alleged that BRS set aside core ideals of Telangana for KCR’s “selfish political interests”. Andhra Pradesh Industry Minister Gudivada Amarnath, however, maintained that YSRCP is opposed to privatisation. BRS leaders defended the move, pointing out that when Gujarat MDC bid and got mines in Odisha, why can’t Telangana bid for Vizag Steel Plant for which even Telangana people lost lives fighting for.
This is said to be the first time a state-run company will place bids to secure a PSU in a neighboring state. The move is also expected to politically benefit KCR’s party, which recently changed itself to the BRS from the TRS to expand pan-India. BRS Working President and KCR’s son K.T. Rama Rao had last week written to the Centre opposing its move to privatise the VSP.
The BRS had also organised a ‘Maha Dharna’ on April 8 to protest against the Centre’s decision to auction SCCL coal mines. The Communist Party of India (CPI) national Secretary K. Narayana on Monday welcomed Telangana’s interest in VSP. He said that if VSP goes into the hands of private companies like Adani Group, it would be a great loss to the country and appreciated KCR’s decision to take over the PSU.
CPI’s Andhra Pradesh Secretary Ramakrishna questioned the silence of Jagan Mohan Reddy government over VSP’s privatisation when Telangana government is trying to acquire the plant.
