It is well known that CBI ex-JD Lakshminarayana has petitioned the AP High Court to stop the privatisation of the Vizag steel plant. The court heard the petition today. Lawyer Yalamanjula Balaji, speaking on behalf of Lakshminarayana, informed the High Court that the RINL had purchased 22,000 acres from 9,200 farmers in order to build a steel plant. "Farmers have not yet received the jobs they were promised. Fourth generation children did not receive jobs after they passed away, he noted, pointing out that VSP privatisation violates Article 21 of the Constitution. As an alternative to VSP privatisation, the AP administration presented the Centre with a number of alternatives," he stated. The hearing was postponed until September 21 by the High Court, which ordered the RINL, Central, and state governments to submit counter affidavits. The workers at the steel plant have been protesting ever since the Center made it known that it would be withdrawing its investments and handing them
