Opposing Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s decision of privatising two Public Sector Banks (PSBs), Bank Unions have called for a two days strike from March 15.
Earlier last week, during the Union Budget session, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had announced the privatisation of two PSBs as a part of its disinvestment plan.
The United Forum of Banks Unions (UFBU), an umbrella body of nine unions on Tuesday, gave a call for a two-day strike from March 15 to protest against proposed privatisation of two state-owned lenders.
During a meeting in Hyderabad on Tuesday, the UFBU decided to hold a day long ‘Dharna’ (protest) in all state capitals on February 19 followed by relay ‘dharnas’ from February 20 to March 10 in all states, districts and towns.
A statement by C H Venkatachalam, General Secretary, All India Bank Employees Association (AIBEA) stated that the meeting discussed the various announcements made in the budget regarding reform measures including privatisation of IDBI Bank and two PSBs, setting up of bad bank, disinvestment in LIC, Privatisation of one general insurance company, aggressive disinvestment and sale of PSUs etc. “The meeting observed that all these measures are retrograde and hence need to be protested and opposed,” he added.
After deliberations, the meeting decided that intensive struggle programmes and agitational actions have to be launched to fight back these policies of the government. “The meeting adopted a resolution urging upon the government to reconsider their standpoint and find amicable solutions to the demands of the farmers. “further strikes will be decided looking at developments”. Stated AIBEA.
Further, the meeting took note of the continuing agitation by the farmers against the farm laws enacted by the government expressed its solidarity with their struggle, it said.
