Left parties stage dharna against Andhra Bank merger in Eluru

Eluru: Protesting against the BJP government's decision to merge Andhra Bank with other public sector banks as part of its banks merger exercise, the activists and leaders of the CPM and CPI staged a dharna at Andhra Bank at RR Pet here on Tuesday. They took out a rally covering Royal Tea stall, Ramamahal Centre and Venkateswara Swamy temple. Later, they burnt the effigy of Union government.

Speaking at the meeting organised under the leadership of CPM city unit secretary P Kishore, the party state executive committee member M Sitaram alleged that the BJP was trying to take the ideology of RSS into masses ever since it came to power for second time.

It revoked Article 370 and divided Jammu and Kashmir to hurt sentiments of the people of the state. There was no freedom for people of Jammu and Kashmir to move freely even today.

The BJP merged Andhra Bank into Union Bank to benefit corporate forces. The BJP did so without even implementing the promises made under AP state bifurcation Act. He called upon people to oppose the bank merger.

CPI district secretary D Prabhakar alleged that the BJP was responsible for banks making losses as it was forcing the banks to give loans to corporate giants like Reliance.