That’s R P Singh, Chairman of the Punjab and Sind Bank to Secretary (Banking) Vinod Rao on March 30 — putting it down, in black and white, his criticism of the manner in which Congress politicians have been thrust onto the boards of Government banks.

As first reported by The Sunday Express today, 33 of the 37 positions of independent directors have been filled by Congress politicians.

Singh has reasons to be upset. His bank, which has recently shown a financial turnaround, has five independent directors, four of whom are Congress politicians.

The Indian Express has obtained copies of correspondence between Singh and Rai as well as exchanges on the issue between the Department of Banking and Alok Kumar, Director of the Appointments Committee of Cabinet.

This is what Chairman R P Singh has said in his letter to Secretary, Banking:

• That one of the directors, Harcharan Singh Josh, “along with other non official directors has been continuously putting pressure on the bank to agree for unreasonable settlements of non performing accounts. Since the management was not agreeing to their requests, they have been resorting to opposing all the agenda items (during Board meetings)...”

• Another independent director, K K Sharma, the chairman complained, “has not submitted ‘Deed of Covenant’ declaration of secrecy and other mandatory information despite repeated telephone calls, letters and contacts by local branch officials”.

• In the case of another director, Umesh Kumar Sharma, the complaint is also serious. The Chairman has written that he “gave an incorrect statement that he is a graduate, whereas he is only a matriculate... Harcharan Singh Josh is a member of the Minority Commission and is drawing salary as a full fledged public servant. He has been a defaulter of the bank and his accounts were settled after giving concessions.”

Josh, earlier Secretary of the AICC minority department, was also in charge of Manmohan Singh’s election in 1999; Umesh Kumar Sharma is former general secretary of the Haryana Pradesh Youth Congress and general secretary of the District Congress Committee in Sonepat; and, K K Sharma is former AICC Secretary, attached to Congress Working Committee member Mukul Wasnik.

Interestingly, last year when the Finance Ministry learnt that Umesh Kumar Sharma was only a matriculate, the Department of Banking initiated a move to replace him. On February 23, 2006, Amitabh Verma, DB Joint Secretary, wrote a letter to Alok Kumar, Director (ACC), stating that the matter has been discussed with Finance Minister P Chidambaram and that “he has desired that we need not seek relaxation of any of the eligibility conditions.”

In other words, “kindly resubmit the case to the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet to remove Umesh Kumar Sharma from the Board of Punjab and Sind Bank.”

Despite this, his file was again sent to the ACC for relaxation of guidelines for his ineligible educational qualifications. The approval from the ACC for the continuation of the NOD came a few weeks ago.

Other Directors on the Punjab and Sind Board have also written letters of complaint to the Chairman, available with The Indian Express. A S Mann, the Officer nominee Director in a letter written to the Chairman on March 21, has also made serious allegations, saying some of the NODs were pushing theirs personal interests.