RINL agitation: 10-km human chain formed

A massive protest was organised by forming a 10-km long human chain by the Visakha Ukku Parirakshana Porata Samiti on Sunday against privatisation of Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited (RINL), the corporate entity of Visakhapatnam Steel Plant.

The human chain from Kurmannapalem junction to BHPV by over 10,000 people mostly employees, contract workers and project displaced families marked completion of 200 days of agitation against Centre's decision to sell equity in RINL, its subsidiaries and joint ventures by way of 100 percent privatisation.

There was mild tension for sometime at Kurmannapalem junction when a section of protestors opposed participation in the human chain by YSRCP MP from the city MVV Satyanarayana. They asked him to resign from the Parliament to take up their cause. The protestors raised slogans such as "Modi down down, Visakha Ukku Andhrula Hakku." Union leaders J Ayodharam, Mantri Rajasekhar, D Adinarayana, Mastanappa and others took part.