Protesting against Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s refusal to recommend a CBI probe into alleged financial irregularities of the Amanath Cooperative Bank, senior Congress leader C K Jaffer Sharief will launch a relay hunger strike from Friday.
The octogenarian Congress veteran told reporters here on Thursday: “Siddaramaiah has rejected the plea for a CBI probe into financial irregularities which had led to the bank’s closure. We are left with no other option than to resort to peaceful agitation on the issue.”
The relay hunger strike, he said, would continue till the state government agrees to order a CBI probe. “Efforts are on to approach the High Court to direct the state government to order a CBI probe,” he added.
Sharief said the majority of the depositors were from the Muslim community. They had been left in the lurch, as they could not get back their money.
“Deposits to the tune of `100 crore were misappropriated by some culprits, who amassed huge wealth. They should be brought to book and poor depositors should be rescued,” he contended.
Those responsible for the present status of the bank are now trying to merge it with one of the nationalised banks, so that they could get away from the crime, he said.
Sharief added that the bank’s identity should be maintained and culprits must be punished. He appealed to the government to rescue the depositors by sanctioning soft loans and appointing administrator to its managing body. Shariefpointed out that it a constitutional obligation for the government to protect the interests of minorities.
Sharief also appealed to the state government to save Al-Ameen Medical College in Bijapur, which was started with donations from the minorities and is being handed over to a private builder.
Let State Govt Decide: Khan
Meanwhile, reacting to senior party leader C K Jaffer Sharief’s demand for a CBI inquiry into the alleged irregularities in the Amanath Cooperative Bank, Union Minorities Welfare Minister K Rahman Khan has said that it is up to the state government to take a decision on the issue.
“Let the state government take whatever decision it wants to take on the issue,” he told Express.
Khan said, “If this is an effort (by Sharief) to save the bank, I welcome it. But it looks more political.”
Asked whether senior party leader Sharief’s demand for a probe against him has embarrassed the Congress, Khan said: “He should understand this. It is for the party to take note of it. I am not going to make any complaints to the party on this.”