Gonda, Uttar Pradesh: BJP MLA Ajay Singh from Karnailganj in Gonda district threatened a bank manager over the phone for not sanction loans under government sponsored scheme.
The MLA threatened to beat him and hurled abuse at him. The incident occurred during the MLA’s public hearing. An audio clip of the incident is rapidly going viral on social media. Some people had come to the public hearing with complaints.
One man said that Sohit Kumar Pandey, manager of Punjab National Bank, Ghantaghar Square, Karnailganj, had been harassing him for nine months for a loan under the Chief Minister’s Youth Entrepreneur Scheme. He alleged that the manager repeatedly abused customers and even used abusive language against the Chief Minister.
Hearing this, MLA Ajay Singh became enraged. He asked Vidya Bhushan Dwivedi, the district president of the BJP Kisan Morcha, who was present at the public hearing, to call the bank manager, Sohit Kumar Pandey. As soon as the manager answered the phone, MLA Ajay Singh began reprimanding him.
The conversation in the viral 2.44 minute audio is as follows.
Vidya Bhushan Dwivedi, District President, BJP Kisan Morcha, Gonda – Manager sir is speaking, I am Vidya Bhushan Dwivedi, District President, Bharatiya Janata Party Kisan Morcha, MLA, Karnailganj, wants to talk to you.
Bank Manager Sohit Kumar Pandey- Yes Sir, Namaskar
MLA Ajay Singh: How are you, Manager? This is Ajay Singh, MLA, Karnailganj.
Bank Manager : Everything is fine, tell me sir.
MLA- I came to know that whenever someone goes to the bank, you abuse him.
Bank Manager : Sir, it’s not like that anymore. I don’t have the right to abuse anyone.
MLA : There are several people standing near us complaining about you. Where is your branch?
Bank Manager : Banch is in Ghantaghar, Colonelganj.
MLA : If you want to live in Colonelganj, do your duty properly.
The incident has again raised the question of safety and security of Bank employees. Several incidents of forced loan sanctions are being reported daily. The local administration also forces bank employees to sanction loans under government sponsored schemes. Bank management and Government should resolve the issue amicably.
