Protest against the proposal to privatize Public Sector Banks

Protest against the proposal to privatize Public Sector Banks

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, Mar 16, 2021:      More than 10 lakh employees and officers of public sector banks are on agitation against the proposal of Central Govt.to privatize two public sector banks  apart  from IDBI Bank and also an insurance company. United Forum of Bank Unions, which is an umbrella organization of nine trade unions in banking industry gave  a  clarion  call  for  Two  days  strike  on  15thand  16thmarch,  2021.  As  a  part  of  protest, UFBU helddemonstrations  and Dharana  across  the  country.  Dakshina  Kannada  Unit  of  UFBU  has  also  arranged  a demonstration  and  Dharana  infront  of  Mini  Vidhana  Soudha,  Mangaloreon  15/3  and  demonstration infornt of Canara Bank,Circle Office, Mangaloreon 16/3.

On  15/3, More  than 500  bank employees  and  officers  gathered  at  Mini  Vidhana  Soudha  and  shouted slogans against the ill motived proposal of privatization of PSBs. Later they sit in Dharna at the same venue from  11.00  a.m.  onwards  upto  1.30  p.m.  Eminent  trade  union  leaders  like  Sri  T  RBhat,  former  Joint General Secretary of AIBOC and former Chairman of Corporation Bank Officers’ Organisation, Sri H V Rao, Convenor of Jointaction Committee of Trade Unions (JCTU)and Sri Sunil Kumar Bajal of CITU were among them. In the beginning Comrade Vincent D’Souza, Convenor of UFBU extended a warm welcome to the gathering. In his speech he narrated the background of  agitation program and explained the ill motived plan of Central Govt.

Sri  T  R  Bhat  in  his  speech  explained  to  the  mass  the  ill  effects  of  privatization.  He  narrated  with  live examples the difference of approach towards the customers by private banks and PSBs. He also narrated the incident of how a PSB shown interest in opening a branch in a remote village and later how that branch has become instrumental in development of that village. He also warned the gathering that the bankers shall  no  limit  their  concern  only  for  bank  related  issues  and  advised  them  to  involve  in  the  fight  of downtrodden.  It  is  obligatory  to  preserve  the  assets  of  the  nationby  involving  in  all  such  fights  where governments take wrong decisions. Otherwise, he warned the govt.may privatize even jails, Taluk offices etc. He was critical about creation of Plutocrats and Oligarchy through the policies of the government. He inspired the mass by quoting examples of getting repealed Land Acquisition Act and getting legislated RTI Act through mass movement. He concluded with best wishes to the gathering.

Sri H V Rao reminded the gathering our obligation towards the society. He was critical about irresponsive approach of the present Prime Minister to any type of agitation in the country. He was also of the view that each affected cadre/part of society fight separately,it may not be successful. If all come together and fight against the menace, the rate of success may be high, he opined. He recollected the banking scenario prior to 1969 (pre nationalization period) and the contribution of Madam Indira Gandhi who brought the banking to the common man of the country by nationalization of banks. He also felt that the then Jana Sangha which is former face of the present BJP, opposed nationalization of banks then and now trying to reverse it. He extended fraternal support to the fight.

Sri  Sunil  Kumar  Bajal  in  his  electrifying  speech conveyed  that  the  present  fight  against  privatization  is nothing  but  patriotic  fight  just  like  pre  independence  era.  He  felt  that  the  fight  is  nothing  but  to  save nation from the hands of present Govt.which would like to handover to capitalists. He reminded the fight against merger of public sector banks and how  Tulu Nadu lost three banks born in this land. The way in which Dakshina  Kannada lead  in  creating  national level banks,  the  same  way  the  District  shall  be  in the forefront in this fight against privatization. He explained the wrong economic policies of the present Govt. and  incapability  of  the  Govt.  to  handle  the  situation  when  went  wrong  by  quoting  the  statement  of Finance Minister ‘God only shall save this nation’. Quoting the master statement of the  present  Govt. ‘Ache din Ayega’ he told it has come to Adani and Ambani whose wealth has grown in multiples when entire country was reeling under COVID pandemic. He expressed happiness over the support extended by the farmers to the cause.

The  program  concluded with vote  of  thanks  proposed  by  Satish Shetty,  Vice  President  of  AIBOC. Trade union leaders of all nine constituents of UFBU were present.

On 16/3, the demonstration started at 10 am.  More than 300 bank employees and officers took part.  The demonstrators expressed their anger at the decision of the Government and demanded that the same be rolled back. Sri VincentD Souza,Convenor, UFBU narrated on the ill effects of privatisation including loss of  job opportunities  to  the  younger  generation, non implementation of  government  policies  relating  to reservations in employment, closure of bank branches, increase in service charges, stoppage of loans to Agriculture sector, non participation in government policies aimed at the providing basic banking services to all the citizens etc.  All the speakers echoed and were unanimous in their speech that privatisation is bad for the country and that the government should rethink and stop it.  Apart from the leaders of UFBU, Sri Ravi Kumar Punacha, leader of Karnataka State RaithaSangha also denounced the Government on the ill  advised  moves  and equalled the  current  struggles  of  the  farmers  and  the  bank  men to  the  second freedom struggle.He said that it is now or never.  There was aground applause from the demonstrators.  The demonstration concluded with Vote of Thanks from Vincent D Souza.