AGARTALA, July 29 (TIWN): Along with nation, Tripura also on Friday observed bank strike to protest against the privatization and reforms.

Around 10 lakh bank employees observed nationwide strike on July 29 called by the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) against the central government’s “retrograde banking reforms

Protesting against privatisation and reforms, Bank employees across the state on Friday observed one day strike, on July 29. United Forum of Bank Unions, the coordinating body of all unions of the employees and officers, gave the call in the state. The proposed strike is to oppose privatisation of public sector banks and banking sector reforms.

The strike is being called to oppose measures to merge public sector banks, appointment of private individuals as executives to PSBs, demanding actions against wilful corporate defaulters.

Alleging that the government intended to privatise the banking industry and allow it to the control of corporate houses and big business, the union has called for this strike.

In the name of consolidation, government is proposing to merge the PSBs and create 5 or 6 large size banks. Privatisation would deprive the poor and common man of the banking and necessary loan facilities, added the members.

The United Forum of Bank Unions, a representative body of nine Bank unions, has called for this day long all-India Bank strike on July 29.

The strike is to register the unions' protest against banking reforms being contemplated by the Central Government.

The UFBU has decided to express its protest by going on strike as the Government proposes to go ahead with banking reforms such as consolidation and merger of banks, sanction of more licences to private companies and privatisation of IDBI. No serious action is being taken by the Government and RBI to recover the huge bad loans in the banking system.