Vijayawada (Andhra Pradesh) [India], August 23 : YSR Congress has derided the coalition government for scrapping pensions to disabled persons and meekly allowing the privatisation of Visakhapatnam Steel Plant (VSP), alleging that no tangible action was initiated against those leaders facing serious charges, said a press statement from YSRCP State Office.
Speaking to the media here on Saturday, Andhra Pradesh Opposition leader in the Legislative Council, Botsa Satyanarayana, said, "It is very sad and heinous to stop pensions to disabled people, and we will mobilise public opinion and take them to district collector offices seeking justice if the decision is not reversed."
"The privatisation move of VSP has reached an alarming situation with the shake-up in 32 Departments, and Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu, Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan, Nara Lokesh and others are at a loss for words and are silent as the privatisation move is gaining momentum," he said.
"We will not allow privatisation to happen and will unite all political parties and intellectuals opposed to it to put up a fight," he said, demanding that Pawan Kalyan provide categorical answers and assurances during his August 30 meeting that VSP will not be privatised.
The party further alleged that Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu, who accompanied Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the Yogi-Andhra vied for publicity and a Guinness World Record, did not speak a single word against the privatisation, nor did he mention it to the dignitary, which shows his stand.
"We will fight it or even join any others who take up the issue, as it is a matter of emotional bond to this region with 32 persons sacrificing their lives to make the Steel Plant a reality," Botsa Satyanarayana said.
"The rampant corruption and atrocity charges against ministers and MLAs remain unabated, and the reaction from the Party and government has been like an eye wash. The government is not adhering to any business rules, and when charges are levelled against anyone, an inquiry is conducted by the same cadre, which shows a lack of sincerity. For allegations against a minister, the probe is being headed by another minister and another official of the same rank, which suggests that the process is merely an eyewash," the YSRCP leader said.
He alleged that allegations of corruption, land and sand mafia involvement, land encroachments, and atrocities against ministers and MLAs are coming up unabated.
"However, no visible action has been taken, and they remain unaddressed, which indicates a lack of seriousness, he said.