TDP general secretary and MLC Nara Lokesh on slammed the YSRCP government in Andhra Pradesh for “not bringing pressure” on the Central government to stall the ongoing privatisation of the Vizag Steel Plant despite the rising protests from the people.
Lokesh asserted that the steel plant should remain in Government control considering how the AP people waged prolonged agitations and farmers sacrificed thousands of acres of their ancestral lands. The Jagan regime was playing a dubious role in the whole privatisation plan.
Nara Lokesh visited Sri Lakshminarasimha Swamy Temple in Mangalagiri and later inaugurated a Mega Health Camp organised by the Lakshminarasimha Goldsmiths Welfare Society. He announced Rs5 lakh financial support to the welfare activities of the goldsmiths and assured continuous support from the TDP.
Later, Lokesh said that the people of Visakhapatnam would chase away YCP MP Vijay Sai Reddy for his attempts to undermine the steel plant agitation. When the employees and the people were rising in massive protests, Vijay Sai was bold enough to say that he cannot give assurance to the agitators but can only get an appointment to meet the Prime Minister. The fake leaders of the YCP were giving false statements to demotivate the people.
Nara Lokesh warned that the YCP leaders would lose their deposits in the next elections if they failed to fight against the privatisation on behalf of the people. The TDP would build up the agitation to bring all possible pressure on the State and the Central Governments. TDP Gajuwaka former MLA Palla Srinivasa Rao has begun his hunger strike which was getting widespread solidarity from all sides.
Accusing the YCP of making all round attacks, Lokesh said that the TDP leaders and cadres have fought back courageously and got over 38 percent victories for the party in the first phase of the panchayat polls. The YCP tried to win the polls by making it a unilateral affair with threats, kidnappings, tearing of nomination papers, etc. Out of fear of losing the elections, the YCP leaders gave whatsApp messages to voters threatening to withdraw pensions and house site pattas if they would not vote for the YCP. Lokesh asserted that their party leaders became more enthusiastic at the rising support from the people and their party would get better results in the remaining three phases of polls.