The Opposition parties have got the support of various farmers’ organisations on the issue of Punjab National Bank.

While the Congress reiterated their demand for an answer from Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the “crisis in the banking sector”, farmers’ organisations have sought the resignation of Finance Minister Arun Jaitley for “criminal lapses” in the banking system.

Meanwhile, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Finance has asked the Department of Financial Services and PNB to submit details of the controversial transactions. When asked if the panel has set a deadline for the Centre and the bank, its Chairman and senior Congress leader Veerappa Moily said the Standing Committee hoped that the details would be made available to them as early as possible.

“The panel will take further steps after hearing the Centre and the bank,” Moily told BusinessLine.

Furnish details: Congress

Congress spokesperson Manish Tewari said the statement by Nirav Modi had made it clear that his establishment had no plans to pay back the loan. “Does the Government of India know the whereabouts of Nirav Modi?” he asked.

Tewari added that the entire scam is just the tip of the iceberg. “It is a serious crisis. The Centre must furnish the details of the non-performing assets before the public. Nothing short of a full disclosure will satisfy the public,” he said on Tuesday. Tewari had earlier rubbished a suggestion that privatisation can end in such scams. “India withstood the 2008 recession because of the strong economic fundamentals of our banks,” he had said on Monday.

Utter failure: farmers’ body

Meanwhile, the Jan Ekta Jan Adhikar Andolan (JEJAA), an umbrella body of various farmers’ outfits, condemned the Centre for its “utter failure and criminal omissions and commissions” in preventing the PNB scam despite advanced information.

“Since the role of the Prime Minister in the scam is indicated because of his proximity to the main culprits Nirav Modi and Mehul Choksi, JEJAA demands that the Supreme Court must directly monitor the case and ensure that the CBI investigation team remains free from the influence of the Prime Minister’s Office. JEJAA also demands that Finance Minister Arun Jaitley take moral responsibility for the scam and step down. Both the Finance Ministry and the Reserve Bank are equally responsible for the fraud in PNB,” a statement by the farmers’ leaders said.

“The evidences show that the period of the PNB scam is 2011-17 and happened both under the UPA and NDA rule. After Narendra Modi became Prime Minister, the scam gained momentum and the accused have been enjoying the direct patronage of the PMO,” they alleged.

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