The Kiwi-bank franchise owner Bhaskar Desai, as a last-ditch effort to save his business, is planning to protest in front of New Zealand parliament on Thursday, December 21.
The embattled owner of the Owairaka Post shop is refusing to give up even with two days remaining before the deadline given by the Kiwi-bank finishes on Friday, December 22.
Speaking exclusively to The Indian Weekender, on Wednesday, December 20, Mr Desai declared his intention to not surrender and carry his fight against the “ivory tower walls” of the Kiwi-Bank till the last day and even beyond.
“I am willing to fight until the last day and even beyond if needed,” Mr Desai said.
The Owairaka post shop was served a 30 days closing down notice on November 22 citing ‘safety risk for staff and public,’ – an injunction that has been widely criticised, including by local MP Michael Wood, Small Business Minister Stuart Nash and the Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern.
Prime Minister Ms Ardern had assured the Indian Weekender that she would be looking into the matter, and following which local MP Michael Wood had met with the representatives of Kiwi-Bank at his office in Wellington.
Speaking with The Indian Weekender then, Mr Wood had boldly asserted that ““I think they [Kiwi-Bank] have got it completely wrong and I am encouraging them to review their position and revoke the decision to walk away from the Post Shop.”
Since then shop owner Mr Desai had the opportunity of meeting with representatives of the Kiwi-Bank – a meeting that according to Mr Desai was “prejudice-free.”
“We were able to discuss and propose several alternative arrangements to the Kiwi-Bank representatives.
“We were told that the bank representatives would be coming back to us in the next 2-3 days,” Mr Desai told The Indian Weekender.
“The closed-door meeting was held on Thursday, December 14, and till date [Wednesday, December 20] I have not heard anything from them,” Mr Desai further added.
“I am suspecting that probably their representatives are expecting the deadline to pass,” Mr Desai said anxiously.
However, Mr Desai is not refusing to give up and have planned to protest before the parliament and hand over a petition of 2000 customers gathered in the last three weeks to the government.
More details are awaited.