Film actor Prakash Raj on Saturday criticised the Central and State governments for what he described as attempts to hand over vital sectors such as healthcare and major public sector establishments, including the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant, to the private sector. He said only sustained mass agitations could stop governments from pursuing what he termed anti-people, anti-worker and anti-farmer policies.
Speaking to the media at a private hotel on the sidelines of the Centre of Indian Trade Unions(CITU) 18th All India Conference, Mr. Prakash Raj said he felt honoured to be invited and considered it his responsibility to attend the meet. Referring to the proposed privatisation of the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant, he said it was evident that efforts were being made to sell the plant to a private entity, alleging that those in power were favouring corporates.
He alleged that people questioning the government were being harassed by the police, and claimed that preventive detention laws were being invoked against dissenters, while those accused in high-profile cases such as the murder of activist Gouri Lankesh and the Unnao rape case were out on bail.
On the State government’s proposal to run medical colleges under the Public Private Partnership model, Mr. Prakash Raj said the move would place an additional burden on the people. He said it was for citizens to decide whom they should support and strengthen, and added that it was due to sustained agitations that the Karnataka government had withdrawn its decision to hand over 1,007 acres of land to corporates.
