Chandigarh :

On the call of the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU), the apex body of 9 trade unions of Bank Employees and officers, a full day dharna as well as lunch time demonstration was held today in front of State Bank of India, Main Branch, Bank Square, Sector 17, Chandigarh against the Governments proposal to introduce the Banking Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2021 in the current session of Parliament. More than 100 members sat in the day long dharna and more than 500 members affiliated to UFBU participated in the lunch time massive demonstration held in front of State Bank of India. Two days continuous strike has also been planned by the UFBU for 16th & 17th of December 2021. The loud sloganeering by the participants including large number of lady members showed the anger of the members against the move of the Govt.

Sanjeev Bandlish, Deepak Sharma, Sushil Gautam , Naresh Gaur Jagdish Rai, T S Saggu, B S Gill, Vipin Kumar Handa and other leaders from various constituents of UFBU shared their views.

Sanjeev Bandlish, all India Convenor of UFBU said that Privatization of PSB’s will amount to rollback of Bank Nationalization, which is retrograde, ill-conceived and thoroughly inimical to the national interest. Comrade Naresh Gaur said that time and again Public Sector Banks have been used to bail out the ailing Private Sector Banks such as Global Trust Bank, United Western Bank, Bank of Karad etc. In the recent past, Yes Bank which was bailed out by Public Sector SBI and LIC. In the recent past Private Sector banks like RBL Bank, Bandhan Bank and four small finance banks have posted loses. RBI has also cancelled the license of Private Sector Local Area Bank namely Subhadra Local Area Bank. The common people have become scared of Private Sector Banks since they expose their hard earned savings. He said that the Government claims that it is implementing various social sector loans and schemes for the underprivileged sections of the societies through the PSB’s. During the pandemic period, it is the Public Sector Banks which have been giving uninterrupted customer services. He requested that the Government should withdraw the proposed Bill in the interest of the common people and nation.

While opposing the legislations to privatize the Banks, Sanjay Sharma, the convenor of UFBU (tricity) said that Pubic Sector Banks act as catalysts in the economic development of the society and backward regions of the country. Nationalized Banks have played a major role in the development of agriculture, small trade, small business, SSI, transport and in upliftment of weaker sections of the society. Way back in 2008 when the world economy was plunged into a deep crises and meltdown, it was PSB’s which helped Indian economy to sustain. Comrade sushil gautam said that all the Public Sector Banks are doing well and earning substantial profit. He requested that Privatization of public sector banks will jeopardize the interest of the common people and backward regions of the country and we all are opposed to any such retrograde move.