Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)
Mangaluru, Jan 8: MLC, Ivan D'Souza, who had announced his decision to undertake hunger strike against the central government's decision to merge Vijaya Bank of Dakshina Kannada origin with Gujarat-based Bank of Baroda.
He began his fast at 10 am on Tuesday, January 8, after garlanding the statue of Mahatma Gandhij at Gandhi Park and photo of A B Shetty.
Speaking to gathering Ivan D Souza said, "Our protest is not against any individual and it is also not politically motivated . By this hunger protest, we are only asking to review the decision of merger of Vijaya Bank with other banks which are running in losses. By this merger, Modi led Union government betrayed the people of Dakshina Kannada and thousands of employees of Vijaya Bank. It is very sad to know that our MP is supporting the merger of Vijaya Bank and he is obeying Modi by not bothering about people's self respect. People of Tulunadu are against the merger of Vijaya Bank but our parliament member is not yet ready to give any statement on this matter. Where he is hiding ? Why he is silent on this serious issue? If he cannot speak against merger in Lok Sabha, why he is holding the MP post? He should answer this now,”
“Vijaya Bank is our identity. So the merger is strongly opposed . We all know Narendra Modi is not an economist. But Arun Jaitley knows the economic policies .He knows the proceedings of the bank . As well as he knows that Bank of Baroda and Dena Bank are under huge losses. Then why he decided to merge Vijaya Bank which is under profit with Bank of Baroda? We cannot understand what is the necessity of merger . What is the reason behind this ?” he added.
“Modi government has completely surrendered to the corporate world Modi is not interested in issues of India and about middle class people. He only wants to travel and TV shows. With this type of Prime Minister we cannot expect more. But we had hope with Sadananda Gowda, Nalin Kumar Kateel, and Shobha Karandlaje, who could have intervened. But now it is cleared that they never opposed the bank merger move and betrayed us all . So now we are warning them. Otherwise the people of Dakshina Kannada will rebel against these representatives. They will tear the clothes of MP Nalin Kumar in public places.” Ivan warned.
Harish Kumar , MLC and president , district Congress said "Vijaya Bank is our identity and it not acceptable to see our bank snatched by strangers. We should stop this.”Ivan will be on hunger strike from 10 am to 5 pm today. A number of his fans are also sitting with him to show solidarity with him.
Central government’s recent decision has been severely criticized by people in the undivided Dakshina Kannada district as Vijaya Bank originated here and is considered as pride of the land.