Bangalore, February 7: Leader of the Opposition in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly Suddaramaiah on Monday lambasted the BJP government at the Centre for its decision to close the state-owned VISL at Bhadravathi.
In a strongly-worded letter written to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Siddaramaiah stated that the decision to close down VISL is against the interests of Kannadigas.
“This plant – VISL – is the pride and prestige of Karnataka. It is named after Sir M. Vishweshwaraiah, the Engineer-Statesman. This plant has provided employment to about 20,000 people,” Siddaramaiah said.
Taking pot shots against Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai and Industries Minister Murugesh Nirani for their statement to make Karnataka an ‘industrialized state’, Siddaramaiah said, “The chief minister boasts of bringing Rs 10 lakh crore through through Global Investment. Can they not revive VISL by pumping money? This shows the BJP’s anti-Kannadiga mindset”
Siddaramaiah quoted Justice Nagmohan Das Committee study which says that there are only 2 percent of jobs in government for SC/STs, the Opposition Leader said the scope for employment for Dalits and other weaker section of the society will further come down if VISL is closed.
“Let me remind you that this VISL was making profit in 1972 and 2004 when Congresd was in power. It is the deliberate attempt of the BJP to close down state-owned PSUs and hand it over to private players,” Siddaramaiah added.
The Congress leader sought to remind the Prime Minister of his own statement when he (PM) had said, “all the steel plants will be revived and steel manufacturing units will be made an intrinsic part of industrial hub”
“Now, keep up to your words and take necessary steps at the earliest to revive Bhadravathi VISL in the interest of Karnataka,” Siddaramaiah stated in his letter.
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