WIDE spread protests were observed on July 4-5 against privatisation of Visakhapatnam Steel Plant (VSP) and demanding Special Category Status (SCS) to Andhra Pradesh and to resolve many pending issues. Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the state on July 4 in connection with the 125th Birth Anniversary of Alluri Sitarama Raju, who championed the cause of tribal people and fought against the British rule during the 1920s. He unveiled the statue of the freedom fighter and addressed a public meeting at Bhimavaram in West Godavari district. People of Andhra Pradesh expected that the PM will talk about the SCS and other pending issues and also on their demand for withdrawal of the privatisation of VSP. But the PM did not speak any thing that is useful to the state, and he only advocated for Hindutva.

People throughout the state observed protests against Narendra Modi and the central government. Workers and employees of Visakha Steel Plant staged rasta roko on the state highway near the Plant main gate on July 4. People staged a dharna at Vijayawada in the evening on the same day. Police arrested the protesters at Vijayawada and released them late night. Pratyeka Hodaa Sadhana Samiti (Committee for achieving Special Category Status) convener Chalasani Srinivas, CPI state secretary K Ramakrishna, CPI(M) state secretariat member Ch Baburao and others led the protest.  Left parties gave a call for protests against the Modi led BJP government’s betrayal, on July 5. People throughout the state participated in a good number in response to the call.

Rasta roko and human chain near the Vizag steel plant main gate

Police arresting Chalasani Srinivas, K Ramakrishna, Ch Baburao and others at Vijayawada.