Bharat Bandh today, tomorrow: Banking services likely to be hit

Representative Image

During a two-day nationwide strike planned by a joint forum of key trade unions beginning on March 28, some essential services relating to banking, transportation, trains, and energy are likely to be interrupted.

The Maharashtra government has invoked the Maharashtra Essential Services Maintenance Act (MESMA) barring employees of state-run electricity companies from joining the protest.

Talking to PTI, All Indian Trade Union Congress General Secretary Amarjeet Kaur said, "We are expecting participation of over 20 crore formal and informal workers with mass mobilisation of workers across the country during the strike on March 28 and 29 to protest against government policies."

She added that the bandh was expected to spread to rural areas, where unorganised farm labourers and other workers would join the protest. Workers' unions from a variety of industries, including coal, steel, oil, telecom, postal, income tax, copper, banks, and insurance, issued strike notices. Railway and defence unions are planning major mobilizations in favour of the strike in a number of locations, according to the joint forum.