Report by Kamgar Ekta Committee (KEC) correspondent
On 12th September 2025, a round table conference of political parties and intellectuals was held at Makiseni Basavapunnnaya Bhavan, Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh, to oppose the proposal of RINL management to hand over the operation and maintenance of 34 units of RINL to private corporates and for demanding the reinstatement of 5,000 contract workers.
The conference was chaired by Comrade Ch. Narsinga Rao, Chairman, Vishaka Steel Protection Struggle Committee. It was attended by the Vishaka Steel Protection Struggle Committee members and leaders from Congress, YSRCP, CPI, CPM, CPI[ML] New Democracy, SUCI, Andhra Pradesh Intellectuals Forum. The Conference resolved to organise Andhra Pradesh state-wide bandh if the Centre and State Governments went ahead with the proposal.
The Conference announced a mass campaign titled “Vishaka Steel Shankharavam’’. As part of the action plan a broader round table conference of people’s organisations will be organised in Vijayawada on September 30th 2025. The Conference also resolved that the steel plant privatisation issue will be raised in the Assembly Session, starting on 18th September, 2025; Vishaka Steel protection conferences will be held across districts of Andhra Pradesh; a bus yatra from Ichchapuram to Hindupuram will be organised; and one crore signature campaign and mobilisation of employees, workers, teachers, students, women, farmers and tenant associations will be carried out.