Ukku agitation reaches 500-day mark

By Our Special Correspondent

During the 500-day steel movement, representatives of the Visakhapatnam Steel Conservation Struggle Committee (VUPPC) and the Chamber of Commerce, as well as 1000 VSP regulars and contract staff, displaced households, and Visakhapatnam district workers took part in massive demonstrations at several places on Sunday, half of them.

Under the auspices of AITUC, a motorbike rally was organized from Kurmannapalem Junction to Dondaparthi. AITUC Primary Secretary G Obulesu, VUPPC Chairman D Adinarayana, Minister Rajasekhar and Convener J Ayodhyaram flagged off the rally.

The bike rally reached the Railway DRM office from Kurmannapalem Junction Nationwide freeway via Vadlapudi, Srinagar, Chinna Gantada, formerly Gajuwaka, Sheelanagar, NAD Junction, Karasa, Kancharapalem, and Railway New Colony.

From there, leaders and locals rallied to the GVMC Gandhi statue. Throughout the march, protesters chanted slogans to central authorities to enforce anti-labor insurance policies.

The GVMC then held a public meeting at the Gandhi statue. Trade union leaders have warned that there is no level of privatization of the YCP if steps are taken to reserve it from losses. They made it clear that the YCP was the property of the people and would continue to be a public sector entity.

At the event, CITU state president CH Narasinga Rao, YSRTU state president Gautam Reddy, primary secretary Y Mastanappa, TNTU state president G Ragharamaraju and VP Villa Rammohan Kumar said they would raise concerns if central officials failed to change insurance policies.