Unusual praise for Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has received praise for a most unexpected source - a bank union with leftist affiliations. All India Bank Employees' Association (Aieba) has praised Modi for taking the lead to bring unbanked families in country within ambit for financial services.

The union commended Modi for rolling out the Jan Dhan Yojana, which aims to extend financial services, including bank account and insurance services, to 75 million households by Republic Day (January 26) next year.

"Aieba is happy to observe that you are taking a personal interest to ensure that every household in our country has a bank account and with the launching of Jan Dhan Yojana, this mission is spreading well," the union said in a statement.

It assured support and help in meeting the objectives of Jan Dhan Yojana. As an organisation which has fought for the nationalisation of banks the, the union is committed to the success of public sector banks in helping the socio-economic uplift of the people at large, its general secretary C H Venkatachalam said.

The union also said while the public sector banks have to gear up to achieve the target of reaching every section of the people, many of the them are leaderless.

The posts of chairman and managing director of United Bank of India, Canara Bank, Syndicate Bank, and Bank of Baroda, as well as the post of the executive director in many PSBs have to be filled.

Aibea urged Modi to take expeditious steps to fill up these top posts in the banks.