Pic: Abhijith N Kolpe

Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (ANK)

Mangaluru, Jan 3: Like minded organisations staged protest here at DC office on Thursday, January 3, against the merger of Vijaya Bank and Dena Bank with Bank of Baroda.

Addressing the protestors’ writer Dinesh Amin Mattu said, "Our district is recognised for hotel and banking business and the birth of five major banks took place here. Banks which were started in this region have gained profit and have never cheated anyone. Banks in this region succeeded in gaining confidence of the customers. Vijaya Bank was started in the year 1931 with the help of farmers under difficult circumstances.”

He also said, "It is unfortunate that Vijaya Bank which is in profit is merging with two banks Dena and Bank of Baroda which is under severe loss. When this move takes place, each and everyone should raise their voice and protest including MP Nalin Kumar Kateel. Despite being helpless, bhakts of Modi, leaders should come out to protest against this move.”

"When this proposal came up, MP Nalin Kumar Kateel should have protested. We select representatives to be in favour of people and raise voices against the issues, but MP Nalin Kumar Kateel has failed in his duty,” he said.

"Even Janardhana Poojary should come out and speak against this issue. We select representatives and there should be followers but not Bhakts because these Bhakts will be blind. We are protesting but I know that even if we protest it won’t have much effect on the central government. As election is inching close, the voters should be aware on who closed down the Vijaya Bank and who is the reason behind its downfall,” said Dinesh Amin Mattu.

Congress leader Vijay Kumar Shetty said, "It’s really bad to see our people of the district keeping quiet on this issue. If same thing would have happened in Northern Karnataka, there people would have protested. The bank took birth on our land and we easily can’t sacrifice it. We fought for Aloysius road to be named after Mulky Sundaram Shetty, but when Vijaya Bank will be closed down, what will be the use of the protest over renaming the road.”

Former minister Ramanath Rai said, "Even the State Banks were merged and later we all know the difficulties they faced. Vijaya Bank is in profit but Dena and Bank of Baroda in under loss. Even MP Nalin Kumar Kateel failed to save the Vijaya Bank which is unfortunate. In coming days the Vijaya Bank board will be removed, which will definitely hurt us and we can say this is black day for us".

Activist M G Hegde, CPIM leader Muneer Katipalla, Mohammeed Haneef and others were present.