Report received from Ukku Parirakshna Porata Committee
Opposing Modi Government’s decision for 100% strategic sale of RINL (Visakha Steel Plant), all trade unions operating in RINL have been participating in relay hunger fast under the banner Ukku Parirakshna Porata Committee for the past 639 days. In solidarity, trade unions, and people’s organisations, irrespective of their political affiliations joined together under the banner of Visakha Jilla Akhilapaksha Karmika, Praja Sanghala Ikya Vedika (JAC), have been organizing relay hunger fast near Gandhi Statue, GVMC. Apart from hunger fast, they escalated the issue in different ways like organizing rallies, public meetings, interaction with political leaders, MPs, ministers, organizing seminars, etc. to bring pressure on Modi Government and spread awareness among the public regarding adverse impact of privatisation of RINL.
In view of Modi visit to Visakhapatnam on 11th and 12th November 2022, Ukku Parirakshna Porata Committee took decision to organise 25 kilometers Bike rally on 9th November, 2022 from Kurmannapalem to Greater Visakha Municipal Corporation office to put pressure on Modi to declare withdrawal of RINL privatisation proposal in the public meeting on 12-11-2022. The police stalled the bike rally, used force heavily and installed barricades, rope parties posted in all ways of rally route. The workers in thousands started walking to reach GVMC by clearing hurdles created by the police from Kurmannapalem. At Gajuwaka junction police started lathi charge and arrested nearly 450 leaders and activists. Another rally took place from DRM office in city to GVMC by Visakha Jilla Akhilapaksha Karmika, Praja Sanghala Ikya Vedika (JAC) under high security.
On 11th November 2022 Ukku Parirakshna Porata Committee organised a mass mobilization at hunger fast pandal to express their demand. The CITU District Secretary M. Jaggu Naidu was arrested while going on the way to hunger fast pandal to express his solidarity to agitating unions. Then police arrested nearly 45 activists and leaders and vacated the pandal. A solidarity action was taken up by the public sector coordination committee and organised slogans against privatisation of Steel Plant at all Public Sectors.
On the day of public meeting 12-11-2022 at AU grounds near Maddilapalem, CITU & AITUC organised a rally from Maddilapalem to AU Grounds by countering police hurdles. In half way, police arrested 40 leaders and activists including CITU District General Secretary RKSV Kumar and AITUC state secretary Padala Ramana. The struggle continued for more than 1.30 hrs and created heave traffic hurdle for the VIPs to reach meeting venue. In solidarity the left parties organised state wide protest actions and demanded to retain Visakhapatnam Steel plant in public Sector.
After release of leaders of Ukku Parirakshna Porata Committee, they organised huge meeting near hunger fast pandal at Kurmannapalem, which was addressed by Com Ch Narasinga Rao, CITU State president and the Chairman of the Porata committee He cautioned Modi Government if they won’t revert the decision the struggle will be intensified.
