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Guntur, June. 26: Steel magnate Lakshmi Niwas Mittal’s takeover of Arcelor, the world’s second largest steel maker, has evoked cheers in distant Narasraopet. It is not known to many people that in the early days of his ‘steely’ career, Mr Mittal came to the remote town as a scrap dealer.
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“We have every right to be proud of his success,” said Vavilala Ramalingam Deekshitulu, a scholar and former Congress leader. “I still recall his sojourn here.” For Mr Ramalingam, it was another instance of a small beginning leading to a spectacular achievement.
Lakhs of tones of steel were used in building the Nagarjunasagar project and much scrap was generated.
“Mr Mittal, who was a scrap dealer then, had come here to buy it,” said Mr Ramalingam. He was encouraged by the then Narsaraopet MP Maddi Sudarshanam. “I played host to him for two days,” said Mr Ramalingam.
Mr Mittal bought and sold scrap for while, before moving on to Britain. The rest, as they say, is history. After he heard of the Mittal-Arcelor merger, the former Congress leader sent him a congratulatory mail. “I am happy for him,” said Ramalingam.
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