History will never treat Naidu as a man of his word if Visakhapatnam Steel Plant is privatised: CPI leader

History will never treat Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu as a man of his words if Visakhapatnam Steel Plant (VSP) is privatised, CPI State secretary K. Ramakrishna said at a roundtable here on Thursday.

Recalling the words given by Mr. Naidu when he was in the Opposition during the YSRCP rule, Mr. Ramakrishna said that the TDP national president had given a letter saying that the Chief Minister must take responsibility to prevent the privatisation of VSP.

Mr. Naidu had even offered that his MPs would resign if necessary to save the VSP from privatisation. “If Mr. Naidu meant what he had said now is the time to prove it,” he said.

Pointing out that the Modi government was dependent on the TDP’s support, he said the Centre would revoke its decision if the TDP pulled plug on the NDA.

“However, the TDP-led alliance government in the State is busy registering cases against the Opposition leaders for demanding continuation of VSP in the public sector. But the Left parties cannot be silenced by registering cases. Protection of VSP is our priority,” he said.

Taking a dig at Deputy Chief Minister K. Pawan Kalyan, Mr. Ramakrishna said, “The JSP president did a lot of drama when a few concrete peels fell on the floor at the building constructed atop Rushikonda during the YSRCP’s tenure. But he had no concerns over teh move to privatise VSP.”

He invited all participants of the roundtable to attend the meeting to be held in Vijayawada on September 12.