Bank Employees in India Begin Two-Day Nationwide Strike Against Privatisation Bid — Video

Earlier this year, during the Budget Session of Parliament, the government announced that it intended to privatise two public sector banks (PSBs). However, the bank employees and management are not happy about this.

Around 90,000 bank employees of various state-run banks kicked off a two-day nationwide strike in India on Thursday to oppose the government's efforts to privatise two banks.

The strike was called by the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU), an umbrella organisation of India's bank unions.

Videos shared by various social media users from different parts of India show employees demonstrating outside the closed banks, holding placards, and raising slogans against the government's decision to privatise the banks.

Banking employees protest in #Chennai against Union Government’s plan to privatise banks & retrograde banking reforms #BankStrike pic.twitter.com/uUvwV5rz1T

— Shabbir Ahmed (@Ahmedshabbir20) December 16, 2021

Participated in the nationwide strike on 16th December as I stand in full support with the millions of bank employees in the opposition of privatisation of banks. Strongly demand the withdrawal of the newly imposed banking laws that will affect the employees & consumers. pic.twitter.com/6GEoMIfdn1

— Mohammed Moquim (@iammdmoquim) December 16, 2021

Great to see unity... 👍👍👍 pic.twitter.com/OdUnugCHhT

— BANK EMPLOYEES NEWS (@bankemployeesnz) December 16, 2021

Hundreds of bank employees stage protest against Union Government's decision to privatise the public sector banks. #BankStrike pic.twitter.com/n05KIVxa0I

— Mugilan Chandrakumar (@Mugilan__C) December 16, 2021

At the beginning of the Winter Session of Parliament, the government announced it had prepared a draft law on privatisation. The bill aims to amend banking companies acquisition and transfer laws of 1970 and 1980 and the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 to achieve privatisation.

Speaking with Sputnik, UFBU Spokesperson Devidas Tuljapurkar said they had a meeting with the representatives of Indian Banks' Association and the Finance Ministry officials on the issue.

"We just want assurance from the government that the Bank Privatisation Bill (Banking Laws Amendment Bill, 2021) would not be tabled during the ongoing Winter Session," Tuljapurkar said,

According to Tuljapurkar, the government's decision to privatise PSBs will hurt banks working in rural India, and many branches of the bank may close down.

Opposition parties, including Congress, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, and Trinamool Congress have extended support to the nationwide strike.

Earlier in March, bank unions also called a similar two-day strike for the same reason.