Farmer leaders from Delhi to attend Vizag protest rally

Rakesh Tikait, others spearheading the agitation to be present

Visakhapatnam: SEVERAL prominent leaders from Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), an alliance formed by over 40 peasants' organisations pan India will attend a rally here on March 28 and give tips to the employees of Visakhapatnam Steel Plant on how to make their agitation against the NDA Government's decision to sell 100 per cent shareholding in Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited (RINL).

The venue for the rally and public meeting has not yet been finalised. The farmer leaders including Rakesh Tikait and several other radical activists who are spearheading the agitation on the outskirts of Delhi by mobilising farmers from Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and other States, against the enactment of three new farm laws, are expected to visit the city to express their solidarity with the striking RINL employees.

"We have already served the strike notice, which is required as per the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947. We will go on indefinite strike anytime after March 25 after taking part in an all-union delegation proposed to be led by Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy to New Delhi," Ch Narsinga Rao, CITU State unit president and Visakha Ukku Parirakshana Porata Committee leader, told Bizz Buzz. He said YSRCP MP had promised to lead an all-party and all-union delegation to Delhi on March 22 to present their plea to the Centre against the decision to privatise RINL.

RINL, the corporate entity of VSP, the country's first shore-based steel plant, has assets worth Rs 32,022 crore and outstanding dues to the tune of Rs 21,236 crore as on December 31, 2020, according to a recent statement issued by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.

The claim has been challenged by many including former IPS officer VV Lakshminarayana and former CMD of RINL Y Siva Sagar Rao. Rao told Bizz Buzz that 16,872 acres, which is under the possession of RINL at Ukkunagaram has been shown in the name of the President of India and the value is estimated at Rs 56 crore.

A retired executive of RINL Dega Satyanarayana, who served as the president of Steel Executives' Association (SEA) said by selling just 1,000 acres abutting the highway, RINL could not only wipe out all its debts but also mop up working capital it needs to meet its immediate requirements.