Visakhapatnam, May 21 (PTI) Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) president YS Sharmila on Wednesday joined a sit-in hunger strike in Visakhapatnam in support of Visakhapatnam Steel Plant (VSP) contract workers who were allegedly sacked by the management.
She accused the BJP of deliberately weakening the VSP through "silent-killing tactics" and pushing it towards privatisation.
In support of the workers at the VSP protest site, APCC chief YS Sharmila Reddy began an indefinite hunger strike, said an official press release.
Sharmila demanded the reinstatement of around 2,000 contract workers who were recently dismissed.
She claimed that the Congress had kept the plant profitable, while the BJP denied it raw materials, increased export duties, and eliminated jobs to undermine it.
Sharmila further alleged that the Centre falsely claimed to have extended Rs 11,000 crore in financial aid to the VSP, but imposed unfair conditions, including the sacking of 5,000 employees, in exchange for further support.
Several Congress leaders and party cadres participated in the protest in the port city.