Visakhapatnam Simmers as Steel Workers Clash with RINL Over Jindal Deal

Visakhapatnam: Fury erupted in Visakhapatnam as hundreds of steel employees, led by the Visakha Ukku Parirakshana Porata Committee, stormed the RINL administrative building. Their target: the recent MoU signed with Jindal Power and Steel Limited.

Barbed wires and a heavy police presence couldn't deter the protestors' rage. They breached the barricades, chanting slogans against Jindal and RINL's CMD. While order was eventually restored, the underlying tension remains.

Fueled by concerns that the Jindal deal benefits a private company at VSP’s expense, unions are demanding a merger with SAIL instead. They point to SAIL's captive iron ore mines, a resource desperately needed by RINL.

"This contract is a loss for VSP," declared senior leader Varasala Srinivasa Rao, echoing the widespread worker sentiment.

Meanwhile, RINL management defended the MoU, insisting it's essential for securing crucial liquidity. CMD Atul Bhatt clarified that the plan has been discussed with unions and employees, and emphasized the upcoming restart of Blast Furnace III on December 30.