Special Category Status will not serve any purpose without stopping Centre’s attempts to dismantle Central Public Sector Undertakings in Andhra Pradesh, chief patron of National Confederation of Officers’ Associations K. Ashok Rao said here on Tuesday. He was speaking at a discussion here on ‘Injustice to Andhra Pradesh: Remaining CPSUs being dismantled.’
Mr. Rao cited how disinvestment of profit-making Hindustan Zinc Limited led to the closure of Zinc Smelter in Visakhapatnam rendering hundreds of employees jobless. He alleged that there was a systematic attempt by the powers-that-be to dismantle public sector.
Stating that after bifurcation, Andhra Pradesh had not only lost Hyderabad but also several assets barring Dredging Corporation of India, Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited, Hindustan Shipyard Limited and a few other CPSUs, he said the NDA Government had already started the process for strategic sale of DCI and strongly condemned the move to opt for disinvestment of RINL.
ADVERTISEMENT
People’s struggle
Former member of National Human Rights Commission K.S. Chalam said Vizag’s development was attributed to establishment of CPSUs and called for converting intellectual meetings into people’s struggle.
Former IAS officer and social activist E.A.S. Sarma said SCS has no meaning without safeguarding CPSUs.
ADVERTISEMENT
He said ₹450 crore deposited by DCI in Sethusamudram project had turned into a dead investment for several years and termed it as an NPA made by the government.
DCI Officers’ Association P.K. Sethi presided. Former CMD of VSP Y. Sivasagara Rao, former Vice-Chancellors K.V. Ramana and V. Balamohan Das spoke.