Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 20: The work in all nationalized banks, insurance sector and various other Central Government offices remained paralyzed in the State on the first day of two days nationwide strike, the call of which was given jointly by 11 major trade unions of the country against the anti working class and anti people policies of Central Government.
However, the normal life passed peacefully in the State and the traffic plied normally while the business establishments also remained open. But all the nationalized banks, insurance sector as well as some other Central and State Government offices remained affected due to strike. The State owned J&K Bank as well as EDB and Gramin Bank functioned normally. The other State Government offices particularly Civil Secretariat functioned normally.
However, people in the Winter Capital and other parts of the State faced hardships as ATMs of almost all the nationalized banks went dry due to closure of the banks in support of strike.
To express solidarity with their demands the State Bank of India employees and officers held a massive demonstration in front of its Administrative Office at Rail Head here this morning. In addition to officers and employees of SBI, the staff of PNB, UCO Bank and other such banks also participated in it.
Suresh Wali, Deputy General Secretary, SBI Officers Association, J&K Zone and State secretary All India Bank Officers Confederation, (AIBOC) criticized the management for its anti worker policies and for threatening the officers and other staff of the bank in participating in the strike which is their legitimate right.
The others who addressed the demonstration included Sham Lal Hans, deputy general secretary SBI Staff Association.
PNB Staff Union held a demonstration in front of PNB at Shalimar in the morning and demanded early redressal of their demands. Addressing the demonstration general secretary of the Union, Comrade Malkeet Singh criticized the anti labour and anti workmen policies of the Central Government and Finance Ministry.
Others who addressed the demonstration included Comrade Rakesh Chouhan, president, Comrade Kuldeep Gupta, assistant general secretary of the Union.
The Insurance Sector employees who also observed a total strike today in entire State held a demonstration at Panama Chowk, Divisional Office. The demonstration was addressed by Pawan Gupta, divisional secretary, S K Bhat divisional treasurer, Ramesh Chand joint secretary and vice president Rajesh Gupta.
The Postal Employees Union, which also joined the strike under the banner of JCA held a demonstration at MA Stadium here. The demonstration was addressed by Comrade B S Danu, T K Sharma, Anup Dhar, Kuldeep Raj Sharma, Bhadur Singh, Chandan Bala, Ram Krishan Bhat, Shashi Prabha, Bachan Lal Saini, Sukhdev Singh Saini, Vaid Parkash, Keshav Sharma and Madan Lal Sharma.
BSNL Employees Union also joined the strike in support of their demands and protested against Govts NTPSU and Pro-Private Policies in the name of Neo liberal economic policies.
The leaders who addressed the rallies included Mohammed Maqbool, Gurmeet Singh, Ram Kumar Sharma (PDD), Sat Pal Singh, Surinder Sharma, Ashok Kumar, Virender Gupta, Mukhtar Ahmed and others.
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