MBEA claims bank stir 'total' in Gujarat

Ahmedabad, Dec 14 (UNI) Barring three national banks like SBI, State Bank of Saurashtra and Indian Overseas Bank, all the remaining 25 banks have struck work, said Mahagujarat Bank Employees Association (MBEA) Chief Dushyant Trivedi.

Mr Trivedi, speaking to UNI, said the strike had been ''totally successful.'' He, however, added that cooperative banks in Gujarat had not participated in the stir although these banks too had joined the nationwide strike.

Except for two or three private banks like ICICI Bank, UTI Bank or HDFC Bank, all other private banks had participated in the strike. Many private banks like Karur Vysya, Vysya Bank, Federal Bank, Bank of Rajasthan, out of the 30 private banks were also participating, Mr Trivedi said.

He said clearing and all other banking transactions like bill clearance, discounting among others were affected. Clearings to the tune of Rs 1,500 crore had been affected in Gujarat, he said.

He dismissed the Indian National Bank Employees Federation (INBEF), a wing of INTUC, BMS and BJP controlled NOBW, not joining the strike, saying their strength was ''negligible.'' UNI VNB KU PB ND1626