Left stages stir over Andhra Bank merger in Vijayawada

Vijayawada: Left parties staged protests in various parts of the state on Tuesday against the decision of the Union government to merge Andhra Bank (AB) with the Union Bank of India and demanded immediate rollback of the decision.

The Left parties alleged the Centre was meting out injustice to the state on various issues. The protests were held in response to the call by CPI and CPM to organised state-wide demonstration against the proposal.

CPI state secretary K Ramakrishna while participating in a protest in Ongole demanded that the Centre immediately withdraw the decision to merge Andhra Bank with Union Bank of India. He said the Andhra Bank had grown into a large bank with over 21,000 employees and 2,800 branches. He said Andhra Bank was playing key role in the development of the country and it should be continued as is it.

In Vijayawada, CPI city secretary Donepudi Sankar led the dharna staged in front of the zonal office in One Town. CPM state secretariat member Y Venkateswara Rao taking part in the stir said Andhra Bank was in profits having branches all over the country.

Accusing the BJP government of deliberately targeting Andhra Pradesh, he also pointed out failure to accord Special category Status (SCS) to the state and non-sanctioning of funds for construction of capital Amaravati and for backward districts' development.

The CPI city secretary Donepudi Sankar said Andhra Bank was the pride of Telugu people and founded by freedom fighter Bhogaraju Pattabhi Sitaramayya 96 years ago. He said the Andhra Bank has very long association with Telugu people around the country and felt it was wrong to merge the bank with another bank..

AITUC state general secretary Obulesu, CPM state leader Chigurupati Babu Rao and others spoke on the occasion. Similarly, Left parties staged a protest at Lodge centre in Guntur seeking withdraw of merger decision. The protests were held in Rajamahendravaram, Tirupati and other parts of the state.