RINL privatization: Employees call for two-day strike; block roads, hold bike rally

Visakhapatnam: Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited (RINL) employees have called for a two-day bandh from Monday. During two days bandh, the employees will hold bike rallies and demonstrations against the strategic disinvestment of RINL-VSP.

On Monday, the Visakhapatnam Ukku Parirakshana Porata Committee and other trade unions blocked the Maddilapalem junction road and Ukku Nagaram junction. They blocked the vehicular movement for a few hours.

Protests intensified after union minister for steel Ram Chandra Prasad Singh told Lok Sabha that the Centre has decided to privatize the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant after thoroughly assessing its financial position and functioning. The minister was replying to the questions by YSRC MP Margani Bharat and TDP MPs K Rammohan Naidu and Kesineni Nani in Lok Sabha.

According to the union leaders, the Centre has invited applications from asset valuers. The government has fixed April 3 as the last date. The selection is likely to be made on April 5. Later the valuers would visit the steel plant to assess the company's value. The union leaders have even decided to block their way and not allow the team to visit the steel plant.