By Sahil Sharma/Anurjay Dhal
NEW DELHI/KENDRAPARA(ODISHA): The powerful Jindal Brothers, Sajjan Jindal of JSW Steel and Naveen Jindal of Jindal Steel and Power Ltd, were on Tuesday got huge praise from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union PNG-Steel Minister Dharmendra Pradhan for contributing Rs 100 and Rs 25 crore toPMRF from their CSR funds respectively.
Both PM Modi and Union PNG-Steel Minister Pradhan twitted the significant contribution of Jindal Brothers to PMRF to fight the spread of COVID-19.
Naveen’s JSPL is running an Integrated Steel Plant in Odisha’s Angul-Talcher coal belt, the home turf of Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and also owns Iron Ore blocks including big size , Guali Iron Ore block, under Joda-Koira mining circles of mineral rich Keonjhar and Sundargarh districts of the State. While Sajjan’s JSW Steel, has taken over debt ridden Bhushan Steel and Power Ltd and won 4 major Iron Ore blocks including large size Nuagaon Block in last bidding
“Thank you@JSPLCorporate.This gesture is very helpful,” the PM twitted. “Thanked Sajjan Jindal Ji and Naveen Jindal Ji for JSW Steel and Jindal Steel and Power Limited’s for contributing of Rs 100 crore and Rs 25 crore respectively to PMRF,” Union Minister Pradhan twitted.
Pradhan’s twit came soon after Prime Minister Modi praising the Jindal Brothers for their contribution. Sources said, Dharmendra’s praising assumed greater political significance with BJP eyeing on Naveen Jindal after the scion of Gwalior, Jyotiraditya Scindia switched to the Saffron fold from Congress.
“The way Union Minister PNG-Steel Pradhan twitted and also shared the twits of both JSW Steel CMD Sajjan Jindal and JSPL boss Naveen Jindal, bears political significance as the BJP closely following in on Naveen Jindal to strength its strong hold in Haryana’s Hissar region, earlier represented by the Congress leader in Lok Sabha,” said a source close to the Union Minister Pradhan.
He added that “ Pradhan along Party’s National VP-Spokesperson, Baijayant ‘Jay’ Panda did the same experiments, and it paid well in Madhya Pradesh by convincing the Junior Scindia. Not only, Naveen Jindal, another young face of Congress, Sachin Pilot is also on BJP radar, sources added in New Delhi.
“To support India’s war against COVID-19, @JSPLCorporate is making an immediate contribution of Rs 25 crores to the PM Cares Fund. We will continue to extend every possible support to our nation in this fight against #Covid19 . #IndiaFightsCorona @narendramodi,” earlier, Congress leader , Naveen Jindal twitted soon after JSPL made the contribution. “@The JSWGroup is making an immediate contribution of Rs 100 crore to PMRF,” Sajjan Jindal twitted soon after JSW Group made the contribution.
Sources also argued that before Jindal Brothers, many corporate houses had contributed but Union Minister Pradhan twitting contribution of both JSW Steel and JSPL has some political reasons. With apart from PNG Ministry, Dharmendra too, holds another key portfolio, Steel Ministry, on which, both Naveen Jindal and Sajjan Jindal depends to run their several Steel manufacturing facilities across the Country including Union Minister Pradhan’s home turf , Odisha .
“With Pradhan extending all support to Jindal Brothers and lauding their contribution in open, BJP may play its card with Naveen Jindal considering his popularity in Haryana, where the Saffron Party ruling now,” added sources in BJP in Bhubaneswar.
Keeping in mind both lockdown and lease transfer of mines, those got expired on May 31, it may mentioned here that, Union Minister Pradhan had personally persuaded Union Steel Secretary Binoy Kumar and Mines Secretary Sushil Kumar to ensure operations of both mines and industries in Odisha, particularly and other mineral bearing States in general keeping the interest of Steel companies and mines firms.
