Patiala bankers protest privatisation move

Tribune News Service

Patiala, February 22

Opposing privatisation, the Punjab Bank Employees Federation held a protest outside the State Bank of India’s (SBI) RBO Building at Sheran Wala Gate here today. The protest was held on a call given by the United Forum of Bank Unions and Bank Employees.

While addressing the protesters, general secretary of Punjab Bank Employees’ Federation SK Gautam said the United Forum of Trade Unions had decided to observe a nation-wide strike on March 15 and 16. He said the government was adopting anti-people and pro-corporate policies.

He said: “Public sector banks need to be strengthened instead of privatising them. A lot of private banks have already collapsed, jeopardising the savings of common people.”

Yadvinder Gupta said: “We can’t forget the scams of the past where private bank owners became the borrowers and looted public money. When banks were controlled by corporates, they were catering only to the rich and affluent while common people had no access to the banking services.”