Kalimpong, Sept. 24: The Citu-affiliated Pragatishil Dainik Mazdoor Union today demonstrated in front of the local branches of two nationalised banks to protest against the decision to charge interest on capital borrowed under the several self-employment schemes.

The banks are allegedly sending notices to borrowers demanding the capital with the interest. Some of the borrowers have even claimed to have police at their doorsteps as they have been declared defaulters by the banks for not paying the interest.

Pragatishil Dainik Mazdoor Union (PDMU), a workers union affiliated to the Citu, has lent voice to the defaulters.

Many unemployed youths of Kalimpong, an industrially backward town, had taken the loans from the banks under the schemes provided.

Around 3 pm, a group of workers under the leadership of the union president, Tara Sundas, demonstrated in front of the Central Bank of India and started shouting slogans against the bank.

The group then went over to the SBI branch where the guards tried to force them out. Later, the bank manager agreed to talk to the agitating workers and promised to forward their demand to the higher authorities.

The unions alleged that bank employees have even refused to accept applications from borrowers for the government-approved schemes on the ground that there are many existing defaulters. Bank officials refused to comment on the issue.