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Seven months after dismissing them allegedly without giving them a reason, the officials of Hotel Industrialist Co-operative Bank in the Chamrajpet area in Bengaluru have apparently called the couple to further discuss matters on June 27.
31-year-old Rakesh belongs to the Mogaveera caste, whereas his wife is a Brahmin.
Both were working as second division clerks in the bank – Rakesh for 9 years, and Unnati for 3 years. They had been in a relationship for over a year-and-a-half before their marriage.
Rakesh said that he and Unnati were not allowed to enter the bank from10 December.
Unnati also happens to be the niece of the late Pundalika Halambi, former president of the Karnataka Sahithya Parishad, who was also the Chairman of the bank.
Halambi passed away in April 2016.
While both await their reinstatement at the bank, Rakesh has been working as a cab driver to make ends meet.
Asked if they are apprehensive about facing any discrimination in the bank when they return to work, Rakesh said, “That’s the risk we are taking. But the point we are making is that caste discrimination is wrong.”
Shyam Sundar, CEO of the Hotel and Industrialist Co-operative bank refused to comment on the issue.
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