We want banks to meet aspirations of the country, says Finance Minister N Sitharaman

NEW DELHI:

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, on Tuesday, said that the privatisation reform is meant to help banks get more equity and meet the aspirations of the country.

While addressing the media amid a two-day nationwide bank strike, Sitharaman said, “The decision of privatisation is a well thought out decision. We want banks to get more equity. We want banks to meet the aspirations of the country.”

The United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU), an umbrella body of nine bank unions, called for a nationwide strike on March 15 and 16 to protest against the privatisation of Public Sector Banks (PSBs).

The strike comes following the Centre’s decision to privatise two public sector banks as part of its ambitious disinvestment drive to generate Rs 1.75 lakh crore.

“Public sector enterprise policy clearly says that we will continue with PSBs. We will protect the interests of the workers,” Sitharaman had stated.

“Not all banks will be privatised,” she added. (With inputs from NDTV)

(Edited by Gabriel G Momin)

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