Bank strike paralyses normal life in Guwahati; customers run helter-skelter

GUWAHATI: Thousands of bank employees and officers across Assam participated in the two-day nationwide bank strike on Monday and Tuesday called by the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU).

 

The strike severely affected banking services across the country and customers were seen running helter-skelter as all banks have remained closed since March 13, being a second Saturday and 14 Sunday.

 

Services such as deposits and withdrawal at branches, cheque clearance, and loan approvals were badly affected due to the strike.

 

The strike has come after Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in the Budget 2021 speech had announced the central government's plan to privatise two public sector banks (PSBs).

 

The Forum demands the strengthening of public sector banks, by adequate infusion of capital, human resources and strengthened statutory framework to recover the stressed assets.

 

In Guwahati, employees and officers participated in a demonstration that was held in front of the State Bank of India, PBB Ganeshguri branch in Guwahati.

 

Also Read: Congress MP Abdul Khaleque files Rs 10 cr defamation suit against party MLA Sherman Ali

 

The agitators termed the privatization of public sector banks as ‘anti-worker’, ‘anti-people’ and a ‘anti-social’ step.

 

The UFBA consists of nine unions representing 10 lakh bank employees and officers across the country.

 

However, branches of private-sector lenders like ICICI Bank, HDFC Bank, and Axis Bank were open as they are not part of the strike.