Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (ANK)
Mangaluru Sep 24: Former minister Ramanath Rai, on behalf of Congress party, opposed the merger of Vijaya Bank with Dena Bank and Bank of Baroda, which are under loss.
Addressing media here on Monday September 24, Ramanath Rai said," NDA government has made a move to merge Vijaya Bank, Dena Bank and Bank of Baroda. Vijaya Bank has vast history of 87 years which is under profit while Dena Bank and Bank of Baroda are in loss. Vijaya Bank belongs to our district which was started by Attavar Balakrishna Shetty, A B Shetty and Sundaram Shetty. Sundaram Shetty was the founder president of Vijaya Bank,”
“During its initial days, Vijaya Bank was in bad condition. It was the employees of Vijaya Bank, who came to the rescue by rejecting to take their salaries. Indira Gandhi nationalised the banks which helped the poor to avail the bank facilities. UPA government had waived farmers’ loans to the tune of Rs 72,000 crore. On the other hand, NDA government had waived loans of industrialists and rich men,” he added.
"Earlier many banks were merged with State Bank of India. Other bank mergers also took place including that of Punjab National Bank. Yet the economic conditions of these banks remain the same. When the banks were nationalised, it helped the customers and employees of the banks. If the banks are merged then it is difficult for customers and employees of the banks,” he informed.
He further said, "BJP MP and MLAs are silent on this issue. NDA government has always been with industrialists, investors and does not think about common people. BJP is confident that it can gain votes in the name of religion and caste,”
Ramanath Rai urged people of the district to oppose the move by NDA government to merge Vijaya Bank with Dena Bank and Bank of Baroda.
Chief whip of MCC Shashidhar Hegde, mayor Bhaskar Moily, former mayor Kavitha Sanil and others were present.