Pics: Abhijith N Kolpe/Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (ANK)
Mangaluru, Apr 1: District Congress observed ‘Black Day’ opposite Vijaya Bank branch at Mallikatte on Monday, April 1, condemning the merger of Vijaya Bank with Bank of Baroda.
Addressing the protestors, former minister Ramanath Rai said, “Vijaya Bank has helped many people in the past. Now after the merger, the photo of bank founder Mulky Sundaram Shetty which is put up in the bank will be sidelined. This day will be observed as a ‘Black Day’ in the district. Mithun Rai has given assurance that if he becomes the MP, his first priority will be to save Vijaya Bank. Our district MP has never tried to stop the bank merger and did not do anything for the cause.”
Former MLA J R Lobo said, “BJP politicised Vijay Bank merger issue and gained political mileage out of it. They never worked for the interests of people. There are 7 MLAs and one MP in the district and it was their responsibility to stop Vijaya Bank’s merger with Bank of Baroda.”
Congress MP candidate Mithun Rai said, “Today is April Fool’s day. Our MP has tricked the people of the district. He always said that he has written letter addressing the concerned authorities, but never assured of preventing Vijaya Bank’s merger. We should take a pledge that if Congress comes to power, we will make sure that Vijay Bank’s name will be saved and this will be a continuous protest until justice is provided.”
Corporators Shashidhar Hegde, A C Vinayaraj, Sabitha Misquith, district women Congress president Shalet Pinto, Lavanya Ballal and others were present.
Like minded organisations also staged protest at Vijaya Bank head office in Jyothi. CPIM leader Sunil Kumar Bajal, Santhosh Kumar Bajal, activist M G Hegde and others were present.