CM mortgaging state for his personal benefits: AP TDP chief

TDP Andhra Pradesh president K. Atchannaidu slammed the ruling YCP for ‘destroying’ the existing industries like the Vizag Steel Plant (VSP) in Andhra Pradesh and for preventing the new investments and companies from entering the state in the past 20 months.

Atchannaidu suspected a huge conspiracy on the part of the ruling party leaders to steal the multi-crore properties of the steel plant which was going on despite the large-scale resentment building up among the people. When such a huge privatisation threat is posed to the state, Chief Minister YS Jaganmohan Reddy has not opened his mouth till now.

Along with the TDP leaders, Atchannaidu visited and expressed solidarity to TDP Gajuwaka Ex MLA Palla Srinivasa Rao who was on hunger strike outside the steel plant premises in Vizag. The Opposition leaders came in large numbers to support the demand for stalling the sale of the steel plant.

Atchannaidu asserted that the shifting of Executive Capital to the port city was not aimed at the development of Vizag but it was part of a bigger conspiracy to loot the industries and public assets there. The properties of the VSP were valued at over Rs 3 lakh crore in the open market. The Chief Minister should clarify to the public whether or not he had met and held discussions with the representatives of the POSCO company.

The TDP leader deplored that the ruling party leaders had created terror in the state to the extent that the companies were not coming forward to put investments. Even the proposed industries like the multi-crore accessories units for the Kia Motors have shifted to other states. Now, the existing industries and investments were also being disturbed, causing irreparable damage to the bright future of Andhra Pradesh.

Accusing the YCP of playing a double role, Atchannaidu said that the Chief Minister was apparently mortgaging the overall Andhra Pradesh interests for the sake of his personal, selfish agenda. The Chief Minister’s letter sent to the Prime Minister will not solve the problem. It was the duty of the Chief Minister to put pressure on the Centre to stop the VSP privatisation plan. The YCP MPs have failed to rise to the occasion to save the steel plant.