Report received from Visakha Steel Protection Struggle Committee
On September 30th 2025, a round-table conference of workers, women, farmers, youth and student associations was held at MB Science Center in Vijayawada, under the leadership of the Visakha Steel Protection Struggle Committee.
Speaking on this occasion, the former MLC and Janavignana Vedika State President, K.S. Laxman Rao called upon the people to resist the attempts being made to dismantle the Vishapatanam Steel Plant piece by piece and hand it over to private entities. He said that he had personally participated in the struggle to protect Visakha Steel, and had raised the issue many times in the Legislative Council. He demanded that the State Government exert pressure on the Center for the protection of Visakha Steel. He also demanded the cancellation of the EOIs (Expressions of Interest) intended to hand over the Steel Plant to private parties.
Y. Keshav Rao, leader of the Andhra Pradesh Farmers’ Association, said he had directly participated in the Andhra people’s right-to-steel movement and assured that Andhra farmers would stand in solidarity with the working class. He also said they would actively participate in the struggle programs formulated by the committee.
CITU State General Secretary Ch. Narasing Rao said the BJP-led central government has accelerated the privatization of the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant with the cooperation of the coalition government in the state. He pointed out that of the ₹11,440 crores allocated for the so-called “revival” of Visakha Steel, not a single rupee was spent on production, workers’ welfare, or development of the plant — all of it was used to repay bank loans. He questioned how the development of the steel plant would be possible under such conditions.
He also condemned the forced removal of 5,000 contract workers and the hiring of new people in their place, warning that this was unacceptable. He demanded jobs for displaced families and locals who lost land for the steel plant. He stressed that students, youth, and women would all be involved in the protection struggle and announced preparations for a massive protest at Dharna Chowk, Vijayawada, seeking everyone’s support.
AITUC State President R. Ravindranath criticized the BJP government at the Center for openly declaring that the steel plant privatization will not stop, while the state government deceives people by claiming there is no such plan. He announced that a statewide bus yatra will be organized to mobilize people against privatization.
INTUC State General Secretary Kranti Kumar said they would fully participate in the struggle. He condemned the government for denying captive mines to Visakha Steel while considering them for Mittal Industries, calling it a disgrace. He demanded immediate allocation of captive mines to Visakha Steel and vowed to continue the fight until privatization is withdrawn.
AICCTU State Leader Saleem said militant struggles were necessary, as dharnas and rallies alone would not make the government step back. He emphasized that the movement must be intensified until the government retreats, and AICCTU would give full support.
Ramadevi, State President of the All India Democratic Women’s Association, said women in the state were already suffering due to lack of employment and that the burden of running families after job losses fell heavily on them. Expansion of the steel plant, she said, would provide thousands of jobs, and therefore women would participate actively in the struggle. She pledged to mobilize women across the state for the movement.
Srinivas, leader of Uttar Andhra Development Forum, said the steel plant is central to the development of Uttar Andhra, and one cannot imagine development in the region without it. He declared their participation in the protection struggle.
SFI State President Rammohan said lakhs of students in the state are unemployed and it is the duty of the government to provide them with jobs by establishing more industries. Instead, handing over an existing industry to private hands is unjust. Just as students actively participated in the earlier Visakha Steel movement, they would again join the struggle until jobs were secured for the youth.
KVPS State Secretary Malyadri said that because the steel plant is in the public sector, employment opportunities were available to SCs, STs, and BCs. If privatized, these communities would lose opportunities. He urged Dalits across the state to fight for the protection of Visakha Steel.
The round-table conference, chaired by Protection Struggle Committee Chairman D. Adinarayana, passed a resolution presented by Co-Chairman Rajasekhar, stressing the urgent need for an intensified struggle for the protection of Visakha Steel. The resolution was unanimously adopted by all participating leaders.
Co-convener J. Ayodhyaram delivered the welcome address. Other leaders participating included CITU General Secretary U. Ramaswamy, IFTU State Secretary Polari, AP Tenant Farmers’ Association President M. Haribabu, among others.
The meeting resolved to continue the struggle until privatization is withdrawn, captive mines are allocated to the plant, and EOIs are cancelled. It also demanded the reinstatement of terminated contract workers and an end to attacks on employees. The round-table called upon the state government to exert pressure on the Center and decided to launch a mass statewide agitation, including a possible state bandh if necessary.