Kadapa steel plant: TDP MPs protest at Union Steel minister's residence, denied permission to meet PM

TDP MPs today protested at the residence of Union Steel Minister Chaudhary Birender Singh here, demanding that the Centre fulfill the promises made in the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation (APR) Act and set up a steel plant in the state's Kadapa district.

The party's lawmakers also claimed that they sought an appointment to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the issue, but his office denied it.

Fifteen Telugu Desam Party (TDP) MPs protested for about two hours before the Union Steel minister met them and discussed the issue.

They held placards reading "save Andhra Pradesh" and "we demand a steel plant at Kadapa".

The MPs said that at the meeting, Singh "failed to give an assurance or a deadline as to when the plant would be set up".

Party leader J C Diwakar Reddy said, The state has already conveyed that it will give land at a nominal cost and bear the cost of connectivity, logistics among others things (for the plant). The Centre is using delaying tactics."
Elaborating on the issue, TDP MP Jay Galla said, "SAIL was asked to examine the feasibility of setting up a steel plant in Kadapa district according to the APR Act."