Dharna at Jantar Mantar: Unions Warn of Bigger Agitation Against IPO in RRB

“Regional Rural Banks (RRBs) are the best instrumental institute and it's assigned to perform and extend government policies in socially secured areas. Under this background, we from the apex organisation of RRB unions oppose introducing Initial Public Offering (IPO).” This is the comment from the protesting bankers as part of their dharna in Jantar Mantar, New Delhi on 19 August 2025. More than 15 parliamentarians, both from Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha addressed the gathering.

Read more here about the agitation against IPO - IPO in RRBs: Bankers Submit Memorandum Warning Strike


Image - The dignitaries at the stage in Jantar Mantar

The apex unions said the Government of India (GoI) is pushing for an IPO, which is against the basic principles on which RRBs were established in the year 1975-76. The RRBs are functioning entirely in the country, covering 700 districts. It extends its service particularly for small farmers, small entrepreneurs and strengthening the rural communities.

Image - The participants in the dharna

The bankers alleged that the move to bring RRBs into the IPO market is nothing short of an attempt to dilute their rural and social mandate. “The RRBs are created to serve the rural people and poor, not to maximise profits for private investors. An IPO would push these institutions toward privatisation, undermining their original purpose. The massive participation of employees across the country, culminating in the dharna at Jantar Mantar, reflects the depth of opposition. We are committed to continue our struggle until this retrograde decision is rolled back.” Sagar Shaha, General Secretary of Karnataka Grameena Bank Officers’ Federation told Kanal.

Parliamentarians Addressed the Dharna
Around 17 Parliament Members (MPs) from various political parties, both from Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha addressed the gathering.

Image - MP Supriya Sule (NCP) address the dharna


Image - MP Arvind Sawant (Shiv Sena) speaks


Image - MP Kalyan Kale (INC) at dias


Image - MP N K Premachandran (RSP) deliver his support


Image - MP A A Rahim (CPIM), also represents Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI)


Image - MP Sudama Prasad (CPIML) deliver his speech

Unions are in Continuous Agitation Mode
The apex RRB unions were in agitation mode against the IPO for quite some time. Eight unions representing RRBs have collectively written to Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, mounting opposition to the government's proposal to introduce IPO in RRBs.
Watch the Video - Apex RRB Unions vs IPO: Inside the Agitation Plan

The unions submitted memorandums to many dignitaries before getting into the dharna. To know more about the memorandum submissions, read here - IPO in RRBs: Bankers Submit Memorandum Warning Strike

Future Course of Action
The continuous agitation shows that the unions in the RRBs, irrespective of their differences, are united against the IPO. As there is no promising response from the government, the unions warn that they have no other choice apart from going for a strike, and organising a big protest including at Delhi.