“Would you ever allow robbers & dacoits to enter your home?” asked Brinda Karat, CPI (M) polit bureau member, addressing a huge gathering of workers and other people near the main gate of the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant (VSP). The mood was electric. The expectant audience responded with vociferous shouts of “No! No!”
“Then how can you allow those who want to rob your livelihood to represent you in the Assembly or the Parliament?” she responded. The workers understood what she was saying and burst into applause and slogan-shouting.
Com. Brinda was addressing an unprecedented public meeting at the VSP gate on 29 April, in support of veteran CITU leader Com. Ch. Narasinga Rao, who is contesting as a CPI (M) candidate from Gajuwaka assembly constituency. Elections to the Andhra state assembly are to be held on 7th May along with the Lok Sabha polls.
Like any other day, the main gate of VSP is crowded at 8.30 in the morning. It is shift change time - workers and executives on duty in the night shift come out and those in the general shift go in to work. Usually trade unions hold their gate meetings by blocking the road in front of the gate. But this time, due to Election Commission’s strict instructions, the police did not allow this. So, a small van was placed on the side of the road from where the speakers addressed the meeting.
The road was partially clear and people could come and go if they wanted. But everybody stopped and listened with rapt attention during the hour-long meeting. Later, everybody agreed that this was the most successful meeting they had ever seen at the spot. The police initially tried to stall the meeting but sensing the mood of the people, they fell quiet and started listening to the speeches. Only a day before, TDP had tried to hold a meeting but utterly failed as nobody stopped to hear their speeches.
Lakhs of people (directly and indirectly) are depending on Visakhapatnam Steel Plant for their survival. Gajuwaka is an Industrial area where Heavy, Medium & Small Industries are there, giving employment to lakhs of workers. Com. Brinda said that Com. Ch.Narasinga Rao is a representative not only of the party but of all the working people, employees and toiling masses.
“Since the ruling parties do not have any respect for the working people, none of them have fielded any worker or Trade Union Leader as a candidate from their parties,” Com. Brinda said.
She appealed to the workers not to underestimate the threat posed by the policies of Congress, BJP, TDP & YSRCP. They are bent upon destroying the livelihoods of workers by supporting privatization or disinvestment of the Steel Plant.
“For these parties, VSP is only important for them to privatize, loot and then close down. But, for you, the Steel Plant is your bread and butter. You have been fighting for the last 10 years for the survival of the plant. While you are fighting here, we the representatives of the left particularly CPI (M) in Lok Sabha and Rajyasabha fought tooth and nail against Government’s disinvestment policies,” Com. Brinda declared.
At present in many of the PSUs, over 50% of the work force has become Contract Workers who get less than one third the wages of permanent workers. In 2009 UPA proposed disinvestment to the tune of Rs.30-40 thousand crore every year. CPI (M) has been consistently fighting against this and for protecting the workers’ rights, Com. Brinda said
Lambasting the mining policy of both Congress and BJP, she pointed out that the biggest problem being faced by the VSP is that it does not have mines of its own.
“There is no dearth of iron ore in the country. But still VSP is denied captive mines, where as in Bellary, the Reddy brothers were allotted mine after mine. Every day, according to the Lokayukta, they made profits of up to Rs.70 crore and so far they have gobbled up around Rs. 80,000 Crores,” Com. Brinda said.
She said that the mining policy of both the Congress and the BJP is – loot the iron ore, export it, but don’t give it to VSP. She said that unless this policy is changed, VSP can not survive.
Speaking about Narendra Modi’s claims that he will root out corruption, she reminded the audience not to forget the fact the corrupt Reddy/Bellary Brothers and former chief minister Yeddyurappa have again been admitted to the BJP.
“It was under the NDA regime that a Ministry to disinvest the PSUs was set up and if you go through BJP’s manifesto, you will find that it will allow FDI into every sector,” Com. Brinda said.
She criticized the Congress for becoming a symbol of corruption and she named TDP as Telugu Destructive Party, which has joined hands with the communal and pro-corporate BJP.
Com.Ch.Narasinga Rao, the CPI(M) candidate from Gajuwaka scathingly attacked local Congress and TDP elected representatives for their inept way of handling the issue of captive mines to VSP. He said that though there is a central minister from Visakhapatnam, Smt. D.Purandheswari, she did nothing for the Visakhapatnam steel plant.
He urged the workers to understand the direct link between politics and the survival of the plant. Politics decide everything of our life and hence, we have to make the right choice when we go to the polling booth, he said.
“Congress, BJP, TDP and YSRCP – all represent the interests of the corporate class and CPM alone represents the interests of the working class,” he said.
He assured the workers and executives that given a chance, he will do everything in his power to protect the steel plant. Com N. Ramarao, General Secretary of the recognized VSP Union also spoke urging the workers to vote for the vetran TU Leader and elect him with a thumping majority.
The meeting, organized under the banner of CPM Steel Division Committee, came to a close with vote of thanks from Com. Ayodhya Ram president of the Steel Plant CITU Union.
Later, Com. Brinda Karat also participated and spoke in the road show conducted in support of the CPI(M) candidates from Visakhapatnam West Com. Botta Eswaramma, a two consecutive term corporator from 36th ward, and Com.RKSV Kumar, a CITU leader, contesting from Visakhapatnam East.