Vijaya Bank merger: Ivan D'Souza holds day-long fast

Mangaluru: Congress leader Ivan D’Souza began a day-long fast today (Monday) against the merger of Vijaya Bank with the Bank of Baroda.

The MLC began the strike after garlanding the Gandhi statue in front of the town hall.

Speaking after paying floral tribute to the statue of Vijaya Bank founder AB Shetty, Ivan said that the merger decision has hurt sentiments of the people of Dakshina Kannada, where Vijaya bank started its operations.

The decision to merge a profitable bank like Vijaya bank with the ‘non-profitable’ Bank of Baroda was condemnable, he added.

All India Bank Officers’ Association’s Mangaluru division President Surendra, MLC Harish Kumar, Deputy Mayor Mohammed K and others were present.  

Meanwhile Congress is planning to hold protests against the merger in front of all the branches of Vijaya Bank here in co-operation with its employees on January 10,