Continuing their long battle against the Government’s move to privatise the public sector banks, representatives of all nine constituents of The United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) resorted to one-day dharna here at Samvidhan Chowk on Tuesday. The event began at 11 am with the representatives registering their resentment against privatisation. The event started with raising slogans by S P Tiwari, Secretary of Eastern Maharashtra Bank Employees’ Association (EMBEA), which was followed by adrenal boosting slogans by J S Gurway, General Secretary EMBEA. Thereafter, in his address Tiwari elaborated on the drawbacks and after effects of banks privatisation and opposed the unilateral decision in presenting Banking Amendment Bill in the ongoing winter session of Parliament. Ramkumar Gupta, former President of EMBEA, also addressed the agitating banker and emphasized on the need of nationalized bank for the common masses, specially farmers and small business trading class.

 

Around 100 comades participated in the dharna programme. O P Verma, Jagadeeshan along with many retiree comrades also participated in the agitation. Jaiwant Gurway in his address said that the Government is hell bent upon selling off all nationalized entities and will be tabling its Bill for ushering privatization of banks which is against common public and nation as well. V V Asai, General Secretary of BEFI and Shyam Kale General Secretary of Maharashtra State AITUC, spelt out the consequences of privatization and extended their cooperation and unstinted support in the struggle against privatization of banks. The programme concluded at 5.00 pm with Suresh Bobhate, Joint Convener - UFBU, addressed the agitating bankers. In his concluding speech, Bobhate stated that privatisation of bank will ruin the country’s economy and farmers and the middle class will be deprived of loan facilities at lower rate of interest.

 

“Privatisation will only benefit the corporate sector, he said emphasing the need of being united and more active participation in the coming days to oppose and defeat the ill-motive of the current Government to put the banks in private hands. S P Tiwari while thanking all the constituents of UFBU, requested to be united in the fight against banks privatisation. Vijay Thakur, Shrikrishna Chendke, Ravi Joshi, Chendil Iyer, Shyam Mainkar, Madhao Pophali, Rahul Gajbhiye, Pradeep kelkar, Nagesh Dande, Dilip Potle, Dilip Raut, Ashok Shende, Prabhat Kokash, R P Rao, Suresh Selukar, D S Mishra and Lalit Kolte praticipated in the dharna.