‘Jail Bharo’ programme to mark one year of their protest against the proposed Vizag Steel Plant privatization was organized by the employees of Visakhapatnam Steel Plant (VSP) on Sunday.

They demanded the central government to take back its decision to privatize the steel plant, Visakha Ukku Parirakshana Porata Committee (VUPPC) stepped up its protest by conducting a huge rally in the port city.

The protestors also made it clear that this agitation will continue until the Centre withdraws its decision on the strategic sale of VSP.

Jail Bharo rally was conducted from VSP arch to Gajuwaka. The protestors raised slogans against central government through-out the rally.

The protest lead to a huge traffic jam on the national highway as the workers sat in front of the police station at Gajuwaka. The protestors were arrested by the police and were shifted to police station.

The leaders of Visakha Ukku Parirakshana Committee (VUPPC) felt that the Centre should not privatize VSP as it was achieved after several struggles.

They reminded that the Modi government that it had to take back the farm laws after realizing its mistake following massive protests by farmers.

R. Narayana Murthy, Film director and actor took part in the protest to show support to the VSP workers. He hailed their struggle for the last one year and urged them to carry the protest until the Modi government withdraws its decision.

He even suggested to VUPPC to create awareness on the issue among people through folk performances.

The steel workers launched the agitation against the privatization of VSP in February 2021 after the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs had given its approval for 100 per cent strategic sale/privatization of the Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited (RINL) along with its joint ventures and subsidiaries.

The leaders also wanted Andhra Pradesh's ruling YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) to increase pressure on the Centre to take back its decision on VSP. They said the state government has not done anything other than just sending a letter to the Centre opposing the privatization.