The occasion was small but the guest list was impressive. From senior RSS functionary Manmohan Vaidya to national Vice-President of BJP Shyam Jaju-all made themselves available for a routine programme which was opening of a new branch by Delhi-based UCB Keshav Sahakari Bank.
Explaining the anomaly one of the observers said” it proves RSS-BJP commitment to strengthen the cooperative movement”. It also underlines their desire to grab the movement and run it according to their idea of cooperative, he added.
The Urban Cooperative Bank of the Delhi-NCR region Keshav Sahakari Bank which is operated by RSS has opened its new branch in Rohini a prime location in North West Delhi. This is the third branch of the bank in the capital. The new branch is equipped with locker facilities for members and account holders.
The branch was inaugurated by Manmohan Vaidya, Prachar Pramukh of the RSS. Kulbhushan Ahuja, the Delhi Prant Sanghchalak of Delhi State RSS, Udit Raj, MP, Lok Sabha, Vijendra Gupta, MLA, Shyam Jaju, BJP National Vice President, Bank Chairman Jaiprakash Gulati, Vice-Chairman Mahendra Gupta, several councillors and others were present on the occasion.
Arjun Ram Meghwal, Union Minister of State, Finance could not attend the event due to his preoccupation.
In his address Manmohan Vaidya, said ” in a short span of time Keshav Sahakari Bank is doing a praiseworthy work
“I have very little knowledge about the cooperative banking sector but I know Keshav Baliram Hedgewar the founding Sarsangachalak of RSS devoted his life to making India one the best countries in the world”.
Quoting the essay of Rabindranath Tagore, he said “A society least dependent on the state power for its needs is the best Society”.
”Cooperative is the only way through which society can be empowered and the slogan “Bina Sanskar Nahi Sahakar, Bina Sahakar Nahi Uddaar represents our philosophy. Sahakar Bharati is promoting the cooperative movement of the country in a big way,” Vaidya said in his speech on the occasion.
The business mix of the bank is 85 crore out of which 66 crore is in deposits. The bank’s net NPA is 1.56 percent and it collected a gross profit of more than 60 lakh in 2016-17 disbursing a dividend of 12 percent to the members.
Reserve Bank of India officials had not detected any irregular transactions by the bank during demonetization, he claimed.
NAFCUB Chief Executive Subhas Gupta, Ramagharia Cooperative Bank Vice Chairman Ajit Singh Sehra, Sahakar Bharti Patron Satish Marathe, Laxmi Naryana Gupta, and officials of the bank were present on this occasion.
Addressing the gathering Vijendra Gupta BJP MLA said Cooperative is a platform where people participate in mutually beneficial financial activities.
BJP National Vice President Shyam Jaju who is also on the board of the bank said “In spite of the RBI being strict in giving license for opening branches, the apex bank has allowed the bank to open new branches mainly due to its good work.. So, I congratulate the chairman and his team for this work”, he added.