CPI demands a steel plant either in Khammam or Warangal

Warangal: The Communist Party of India (CPI) has planned to intensify their agitation opposing the government's move to allocate iron ore mines of Telangana region to Visakhapatnam Steel Plant (VSP). The party has decided to conduct demonstrations at Ambedkar statues in Hanamkonda and Mahbubabad towns in the district on April 23 from 11 am to 5 pm demanding to withdrawal of the GO issued by the government allocating the mines to VSP. CPI leaders, T Venkataramulu and former MLA P Saraiah and others told press persons here on Monday that it was their party which first opposed the decision of late chief minister Y S Rajashekar Reddy who leased out mines to his son-in-law and succeeded in getting the lease cancelled. Now Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy was trying to divert the natural resources from Telangana to other regions. The CPI leaders alleged that the chief minister was acting like an immature person. Just a few days ago on the floor of the Assembly, he had stated that the government would not give a rupee for the development of Telangana region and now planning to divert the mineral wealth of the region for the benefit of the others. "What he has said in the house of the Assembly he is now showing in action" they averred. The CPI leaders demanded the CM to give his anti-Telangana stand and act as chief minister for the entire state. A steel factory should be set on the border of Khammam, Karimnagar and Warangal to make use of the iron ore and to provide employment to the locals and would also bring development to the region, Venkatramulu and Sariah said. The Congress leaders should stop bluffing people and see that steel factory should be set up in the region" they demanded. The region has been neglected for decades despite having rich mineral wealth and all the facilities for setting up factories like steel, coach building and other projects but none cared to act in that direction, they lamented.