H.D. Kumaraswamy. File
| Photo Credit: The Hindu
Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel H.D. Kumaraswamy said the process of reviving the Salem Steel Plant is at a preliminary stage, on Saturday (June 21, 2025.)
The Union Minister participated in the International Yoga Day celebrations at Salem Steel Plant on Saturday and performed asanas.
Later, speaking to the reporters, the Union Minister congratulated Prime Minister Narendra Modi for encouraging the Hindu culture of yoga. “Every year on June 21, the Prime Minister himself attends yoga and encourages every family to do yoga, as it is a must to look after their health. By participating in yoga, the Prime Minister also encouraged the world to do yoga.”
Stating that it is his second visit to Salem Steel Plant after becoming Union Minister, Mr. Kumaraswamy said, “We are working out how to revive Salem Steel Plant. We have constituted two consultative committees to give their recommendations to improve the Salem Steel Plant technically and market-wise, which are in the preliminary stage. We have a sentiment about the plant that it was earlier running successfully and each family had this plant product. In the year 2003-04, the plant functioned with ₹180 crore profit. But now, in the last 10 to 15 years, the profit is declining and steps are being taken to sort this out, which are in preliminary stages.”
International Yoga Day 2025 — In pictures
A girl performs yoga on the occasion of the International Day of Yoga, at her terrace near the Taj Mahal, in Agra,on June 21, 2025.
An aerial view of participants taking part in the International Yoga Day celebrations along Beach Road in Visakhapatnam on June 21, 2025. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu were present at the event.
People perform yoga on the occasion of International Day of Yoga, in the middle of the Yamuna river, in New Delhi on June 21, 2025
Students of Rex higher secondary school performing yoga on the Occasion of International yoga day in Udhagamandalam on June 21, 2025.
Border Security Force (BSF) personnel along with their family members and others take part in a yoga session to mark the International Day of Yoga, at Attari-Wagah Border, in Amritsar district, on June 21, 2025.
Border Security Force jawans perform Yoga to mark the International Day of Yoga. In December 2014, the United Nations (UN) declared 21 June as the International Day of Yoga after adopting a resolution proposed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
People perform Yoga to mark the International Day of Yoga at SKICC bnaks of Dal lake in Srinagar.
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla with MPs and other dignitaries performs yoga during a ‘Yoga Shivir’, organised on the International Day of Yoga, at the Parliament House complex in New Delhi, on June 21, 2025.
Students take part in a yoga session, organised to mark the International Day of Yoga, in Shimla
Over 22,000 tribal students participating in ‘Yogandhra’, a mass yoga session aimed at setting a Guinness record, at Andhra University Engineering College Grounds in Visakhapatnam on June 20, 2025, as a prelude to the International Yoga Day celebrations.
89-year-old actor Dharmendra with actress Ekta Jain perform yoga during the International Yoga Day in Mumbai on June 21, 2025.
A student performs Yoga to mark the International Day of Yoga at SKICC bnaks of Dal lake in Srinagar
Foreign participants performing yoga asanas during the International Yoga Day celebrations along Beach Road in Visakhapatnam on June 21, 2025. PM Modi participated in the event.
BJP leaders perform Yoga to mark the International Day of Yoga at clock tower city center lalchowk in Srinagar
Border Security Force Jawans perform Yoga to mark the International Day of Yoga at BSF Huhama campus in Srinagar, on June 21, 2025.
People perform Yoga on the occasion of International Yoga Day celebrations at the Indira Gandhi Municipal Stadium in Vijayawada on June 21, 2025.
Union Home minister Amit Shah participating in International Yoga Day celebrations in Ahmedabad on June 21, 2025.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh with Chief of Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi and other Indian Army personnel perform Yoga on the occasion of International Yoga Day at Udhampur base in J&K.
Actor Mohanlal participating in a Yoga session held as part of the International Yoga Day at Nedumbassery in Kochi on June 21, 2025.
International Day of Yoga 2025 was celebrated at Indian Coast Guard Dist. HQ No.4 (Kerala & Mahe) in Fort Kochi in collaboration with Kochi Cultural Heritage & Tourism Society and Brahmakumaris Foundation. Over 300 people participated.
Tamil Nadu Governor R.N. Ravi performs yoga on the occasion of 11th International Yoga Day, with over 10,000 students in Madurai on June 21, 2025.
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The Prime Minister and also the Finance Minister have commitments to save these kinds of Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs). The decline of the Salem Steel Plant allegedly started during the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government at the centre between 2004 and 2014. Since the steps to revive this plant are still in the preliminary stage, we expect to receive proper information within the next four or five months. Several consumer products could be produced at Salem Plant and we are working on it. “At present, there is no idea for new recruitment for the plant and the first duty is to save this plant and sort out the workers issue and after strengthening the plant, there will be new recruitment,” the Minister added.
Responding to a question on the BJP trying to divide regional parties, the Union Minister replied that the BJP is not dividing the parties. The regional parties in some States are dividing themselves owing to personal issues. The BJP is working to strengthen the country.
Regarding the language issue in releasing the actor Kamal Haasan-starred Thug Life movie in Karnataka, the Minister said the movie was released already.
Published – June 21, 2025 02:00 pm IST