Congress protest against Vijaya and Dena banks merger

Terming the decision of the Central government towards the merger of Vijaya Bank and Dena Bank with Bank of Baroda unfortunate, former minister B Ramanath Rai said Wednesday was a Black Day for the district as Vijaya Bank has gone from strength to strength in the leadership of former Chairman of the bank Sundaram Shetty.

'Complete NH Works'

He also said that the district Congress will take out a protest rally on January 14,15 and 16 from Nelyadi to N C Road followed by public meetings, to urge the completion of Addahole - B C Road work by the NHAI. "Heddari Poornagolisi -Janara prana ulisi" (complete NH works, save people's lives) will be the slogan of the rally. Rai further accused that no significant project has been sanctioned to Dakshina Kannada during the tenure of current M P. On the contrary, efforts are on to handover public sector organisations such as Mangaluru international airport to private bodies.

Reacting to a query on the entry of women between the age of 10 and 50 to the Sabarimala shrine in Kerala, he said he would not like to politicise the issue unlike BJP.
"I am a religious person and have visited Shabarimala shrine for 18 years after carrying out austerities. How many of the RSS leaders who have been raising hue and cry over the issue, have been to Sabarimala?" he asked adding that the issue has to do with the religious belief of people.