Day long Dharna&Lunch Time Demonstration Against Privatization of Public Sector Banks
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. The demonstration was held against the sale of 2 Public Sector Banks as announced by the Finance Minister in the Budget speech delivered on February 1, 2021. More than 100 members sat in the day long dharna and more than 500 members affliated 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 15th and 16th of March 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.
Shri Sanjeev Bandlish, Shri Deepak Sharma, Shir S K Gautam, Shri Jagdish Rai, Shri B S Gill and other leaders from various constituents of UFBU shared their views. All the speakers were of the same view that “No one is safe until everyone is safe”.
Shri Sanjeev Bandlish, all India Convenor of UFBU said that through Constitutional provisions in mind, nationalisation of Banks was undertaken in our country. It was the Public Sector Banks, created through nationalisation, which led to the growth and development of the economy across the length and breadth of the country, serving the citizens of the nation in unbanked rural and remote areas. Farmers and small industries gained access to institutional credit because of Public Sector Banks. He appealed to the members to remain united for the bitter battle ahead and involve not only the officers and employees community but our 80 crore customers, who are common citizens, including the farmers, MSME’s, the students, SHG’s, retirees and other PSU unions to build resistance against any step towards privatisation, dilution of Government equity.
Day long dharna&lunch time demonstration against privatization of public sector banks
While opposing the legislations to privatise the Banks, Sanjay Sharma, the convenor of UFBU (tricity) said that Privatisation of PSB’s will amount to rollback of bank nationalisation, which is retrograde, ill conveived and thoroughly inimical to the national interest. He said that unfortunately, the principles of the welfare state are being abandoned by the Union Government under the neoliberal slogans of Liberalisation, Globalissation and Privatisation (LPG) and also of “Minimum Government, Maximum Governance”. He appealed to the members to be prepared for the bitter battle ahead.
