Nagaland: Banks to be fully functional on Wednesday as 2-day strike concludes

Our Reporter
Dimapur, March 16 (EMN): The two-day nationwide bank strike called by the United Forum of Banks Union (UFBU) concluded in Nagaland on Tuesday.

The UFBU Nagaland unit took part in the protest by organising dharnas in Dimapur, Kohima and Mokokchung, opposing the Centre’s move to privatise public sector banks, retrograde the banking reforms and strengthen public sector banks.

In Dimapur, dharna was held at Supermarket complex near SBI Regional Business Office on Monday and more than 100 people we said to have participated on day-two as well.

The chief associate and assistant general secretary SBI, staff association, North Eastern Circle, Dimapur, Ramesh Hasu, told Eastern Mirror that they were protesting and fighting in ‘favour of public’ because once the banks are privatised “it will go to the big shots and corporate only (sic)”.

“It is not for ourselves but it is a public cause,” he said, and shared that no complaints were received from the customers during the two-day bank strike even though the banks were closed and banking services were affected.

He also informed that the Automated Teller Machines (ATM) were operational and functional in around Dimapur, despite the strike.

“The banks will be open from tomorrow (March 17) and fully functional,” he said.

He also stated that the next phase of agitation would be decided after the result of the two-day strike.

“If the government decides not to privatise banks then there will be no more agitation but if it decides to privatise banks then there will be bigger strike,” he added.

He also stated that the two-day strike was a ‘successful one’ as many people participated and most of the banks, including public and private sector banks, remained closed.

“Once it (banks) is privatised, the security of the public will not be there,” he added.