The Business Bytes
THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU
ANGUL, MAY 15, 2025
In a stirring salute to India’s armed forces and a rousing celebration of national unity, Jindal Steel & Power (JSP) on Thursday staged a spectacular Tiranga Yatra through its Angul steel complex, commemorating the emphatic success of Operation Sindoor — a recent military mission that has already entered the annals of India’s modern defence history.
Thousands of employees, their families, local residents and stakeholders — clad in patriotic colours and waving the Tricolour — marched from the company township to JSP’s iconic 303-foot flagpole, chanting “Bharat Mata Ki Jai” and “Vande Mataram.” The kilometre-long procession was spearheaded by Naveen Jindal, Member of Parliament (Kurukshetra), Chairperson of JSP and President of the Flag Foundation of India, whose long-standing advocacy for respectful flag display lent special resonance to the occasion.
“Operation Sindoor has reignited our national confidence,” Jindal told the sea of flag-bearers. “We thank Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and salute our brave soldiers. No terrorist will ever again threaten innocent citizens; if stones are thrown, India will answer with steel,” he said.
Underscoring the corporate house’s commitment to the nation’s defenders, Jindal announced a ₹5-crore contribution — equivalent to one day’s salary voluntarily donated by every JSP employee — towards the welfare of Army personnel, the families of paramilitary martyrs and civilians affected by conflict across India.
The rally culminated in a solemn floral tribute at the giant flag mast, followed by a cultural showcase of Odia folk music and dance celebrating India’s syncretic heritage. Local community leaders joined senior JSP executives — including Pankaj Malhan (Executive Director-in-Charge), Damodar Mittal (Executive Director) and Dillip Sihna (CHRO) — to affirm solidarity with the armed forces and applaud the workforce’s gesture.
For Angul’s residents, the sight of thousands advancing beneath the fluttering Tricolour was more than ceremonial pageantry; it was a palpable statement of collective resolve. Operation Sindoor — widely praised for its precision, speed and minimal collateral impact — has become a lodestar for India’s security doctrine, and Thursday’s Tiranga Yatra echoed that spirit on the industrial front.
“This march is our humble way of saying thank you,” Jindal concluded. “Every heartbeat here beats for the nation. JSP will remain steadfast in serving India — on the factory floor, in our communities and whenever duty calls.”
With the final strains of the national anthem echoing across the plant and tricolours still aloft, the event closed exactly as it had begun: in unison, pride and an unwavering pledge to keep the flag flying high.
