New Delhi: Banking operations are likely to be affected by the all-India general strike or ‘Bharat Bundh’ called by trade unions on Wednesday, January 8. Over ten central trade unions, along with support from opposition parties, called for a one-day long strike in order to protest against the BJP-led government’s economic policies.

Owing to the strike, branches of various Indian banks will remain closed and ATM services are also likely to be hit. However, online transactions such as NEFT will still be available 24×7.

In a statement released to the press, the State Bank of India (SBI) informed that its branches are not likely to be affected by the strike. It further said that certain steps have been taken to ensure that its banking operations continue functioning tomorrow.

Around 25 crore people are expected to participate in the ‘Bharat Bandh’, according to a joint statement by the ten central trade unions responsible for calling the strike. The statement read, “We expect participation of not less than 25 crore of working people in the forthcoming National General Strike on January 8, 2020, to be followed by many more actions seeking reversal of the anti-worker, anti-people, anti-national policies of the Government.”

“The Ministry of Labour has failed to assure any of the demands of workers which called a meeting on January 2, 2020. The attitude of the government is that of contempt towards labour as we construe from its policies and actions,” it added.