the goan I network
MAPUSA
Former union minister and founder chairman of Mapusa Urban Coop Bank (MUCB), Ramakant Khalap said that he was open to any inquiry over his association with the bank.
He also said that there were attempts to denigrate him for political expediency, as he was a probable Congress candidate for the ensuing parliamentary polls.
“They can go ahead and make inquiries. If somebody does it, they will end up recognizing my contribution to the welfare of the bank and also realize who exactly has brought us to the current situation we are all facing today,” Khalap said.
“This (inquiry) happened once, and I came out brighter than ever. I am ready for any investigation again,” he added.
On Saturday, a number of shareholders including Rajsingh Rane, a BJP karyakarta and RSS ideologue, Sanjay Walauvlekar without taking names demanded action against the directors responsible for the mess in the bank.
Khalap said a similar situation prevailed in 2000 when Manohar Parrikar first became chief minister of Goa.
He recalled how the then board of directors headed by him was forced to resign and the then BJP government had appointed five individuals as administrators.
“Nine cases were filed against me and others then. But in the end we were exonerated from all of them and came out unscathed,” the former chairman said.
Khalap said that the administrators who ran the bank from 2000 to 2005 did not bring about any perceptible change in the fortunes of the bank.
He said when he again took over the affairs of bank in 2006, the bank did
excellently well and
reduced non-performing assets (NPA) of Rs 150 crore to Rs 25 crore.
He also said that for eight years, the bank posted profits with 2014 being an exception when the bank posted a loss of Rs 30 lakh but that in 2015 it bounced back and showed a profit of Rs 2 crore.
He said there were attempts to denigrate him and spoil his chances to get a ticket for the parliamentary elections scheduled in 2019.
“I am a spokesman for Congress party. I point out the government’s mistakes. I am a probable candidate for the parliamentary polls. If someone denigrates me, it may help their prospects,” Khalap said.
