JD(U) MP seeks probe into indiscriminate lending by banks during UPA regime

NEW DELHI: A demand to investigate alleged indiscriminate lending by public sector banks during the previous UPA regime was made in the Rajya Sabha today by JD(U) leader Harivansh.

Raising the issue through a zero hour mention, he said lending by public sector banks rose from Rs 18 lakh crore in 60 years till 2008 to Rs 52 lakh crore between 2009 and 2014.

He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during the reply to the debate on no-confidence motion last week, had termed the loans as "landmines".

The indiscriminate lending had led to a situation of unprecedented bad loans and stressed assets, he alleged.

"It should be investigated who violated rules to lead banks to this situation," he said.

He also called for an investigation into appointments of chairmen and other senior functionaries of public sector banks who allegedly presided over the indiscriminate lending.

Raising other issues, Vandana Chavan (NCP) demanded a ban on use of pet coke in cement and power plants as it contains 20 times more sulphur than coal and has a disastrous effect on health.

V Vijayasai Reddy (YSR Congress) raised the issue of Navy using the Vizag airport for sorties, hampering operations of civilian flights.

Airlines are curtailing flight operations due to Navy using Vizag airport, he said.

While Jet Airways has withdrawn a flight from the city, Spice Jet has withdrawn Vizag-Bangkok flight.

Air India has rescheduled its flight from Vizag to Dubai while Sri Lankan Airline has threatened to reschedule its flight, he said Kanimozmi (DMK) raised the issue of killing of 13 persons in police firing while they were demanding the closure of the Sterlite Copper's smelter plant in Tuticorin in Tamil Nadu.

She said normalcy has not returned to the city and people continue to be harassed by midnight searches by the police.

She alleged that a committee of prominent citizens including retired judges and journalists who had gone to assess the situation had to change venue thrice as permission was denied.

Sambhati Chhatrapati (Nominated) raised the issue of reservation to Marathas, saying the government should hold consultations with all stakeholders to defuse a situation trying volatile.

Satyanarayan Jatiya (BJP) raised the issue of crops being damaged in absence of proper storage facilities while Manas Ranjan Bhunia (TMC) sought sanction for water projects in West Bengal.

Sanjay Singh (AAP) wanted the government to hold talks with 86-year old G D Agarwal, who has been on an indefinite fast demanding cleaning of the Ganga River.