Asim backs bank strike

On the eve of the proposed two-day nation-wide bank strike on 25-26 February 2008, finance minister of West Bengal, Asim Das Gupta extended full support to the bank unions by not only saying that the state government is against merger of any banks, but also added that no foreign banks should be allowed to open any more branches in the country.

"I am totally against the merger of the nationalised banks as there is absolutely no need for merger. Even the foreign banks have opened far more branches they were supposed to, unless the India banks open branches at the foreign locations in the same proportion, foreign banks should not be allowed to open further branches in the country," he added.

The minister termed the international banks as the scam ridden and said that the recession at the US is accounted for the failure of the financial system.

"We have nothing to learn from the scam ridden banks, our very own banks can survive and perform much more efficiently compared to them," Das Gupta said while addressing the conference of the United Bank Officers' Association.

Regarding the recruitment demand of the bank employees, he said that there is indeed a need for filling up the vacant positions.

The minister also added that the proposed contributory pension scheme is not ideal and the state government will oppose it tooth and nail.

"We have worked out that the new pension scheme is not ideal and we have decided to oppose the pension reform scheme," he added.