The three-day nationwide bank strike scheduled to begin on Monday has been deferred following a meeting between the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) and the Indian Banks’ Association (IBA) on Sunday night.

The development came after the two sides held talks ahead of the planned strike, which was expected to affect banking operations across the country.

The UFBU, an umbrella forum representing bank unions, had called for the three-day nationwide strike. The action was scheduled to begin on September 28.

Bank strike deferred after Sunday meeting

The decision to defer the strike followed an eleventh-hour meeting between representatives of the UFBU and the IBA on Sunday night.

The proposed strike had raised concerns about disruption to banking services for millions of customers. With the strike now deferred, the immediate three-day disruption that was scheduled to begin Monday will not take place as planned.

The development comes after earlier efforts by the government and bank managements to persuade the unions to defer the strike. The unions had been seeking, among other demands, the introduction of a five-day banking system.

What were the bank unions demanding?

The UFBU’s demands included the introduction of five-day banking. Other issues raised by the unions included improvements in pension-related matters, a uniform dearness allowance formula for pensioners and an option for employees covered under the National Pension System to move to the old pension scheme.

The proposed strike had been scheduled for September 28, 29 and 30. The timing had also raised concerns because September 26 and 27 were a Saturday and Sunday, respectively, while September 30 coincides with the half-yearly closing of banks.

Students of Lovely Professional University (LPU) in Punjab staged a protest after an allegation involving the reported rape of a student by a worker at the university surfaced.

The protest led to disruption around the university, with students taking to the streets and blocking the Jalandhar-Phagwara National Highway, according to the report.

The allegation triggered anger among students, who demanded action over the reported incident.

Police describe rape claim as rumour

Police, however, described the rape claim as a rumour, indicating that the allegation had not been established as a confirmed incident.

The distinction is important because the reported sexual assault allegation should not be treated as a confirmed rape unless investigators or other authoritative sources establish that fact.

The protests nevertheless continued as students sought clarity and action over the issue.

Protest disrupts traffic

The student demonstration also affected traffic on the Jalandhar-Phagwara National Highway. The protest brought attention to the allegations and the concerns being raised by students at the university.

With police calling the claim a rumour, further verification and investigation would be necessary to establish what actually happened.

Opposition parties belonging to the INDIA bloc are set to meet in New Delhi on September 30 to discuss concerns surrounding the Election Commission, the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and a proposed removal motion against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

The proposed meeting comes amid growing coordination among opposition parties over the functioning of the poll panel and demands for action against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The parties are also discussing a possible joint response to the developments.

Why is the INDIA bloc meeting being planned?

The INDIA bloc meeting on September 30 comes amid reports of objections within the Election Commission over certain decisions and orders related to the SIR exercise. 

According to the report, Opposition leaders have been discussing a coordinated response to their concerns over the Election Commission and the electoral-roll revision process. 

The issue is also expected to be discussed at the Congress Working Committee meeting scheduled for September 29, a day before the proposed INDIA bloc meeting.

Gyanesh Kumar removal demand in focus

The demand for the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar has become a major point of contention between the Opposition and the Election Commission.

The CPI(M), CPI and CPI(ML)-Liberation have demanded Kumar’s removal and an immediate halt to the SIR exercise. Congress has also intensified its criticism of the CEC.

Opposition parties are also working on a fresh removal motion against Gyanesh Kumar. The September 30 meeting is expected to finalise the strategy for the motion, including the collection of signatures. According to the report, this would be the Opposition’s third such attempt. 

What is the SIR controversy?

The political dispute is linked to the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls, or SIR.

The controversy intensified following a report that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had recorded objections on several occasions concerning decisions and orders related to the SIR process.

The Election Commission has said that differing views and observations are part of normal deliberations in a multi-member constitutional body. The poll panel has also maintained that its orders have legal sanction and follow statutory procedures, while stating that the final decisions on the SIR were taken unanimously. 

TMC and Left parties coordinate over the issue

The developments have also brought the Trinamool Congress and the CPI(M) together on the Election Commission issue, despite their political differences in West Bengal.

CPI(M) general secretary M A Baby proposed an immediate meeting to discuss a joint strategy. According to the report, Mamata Banerjee spoke with M A Baby and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, after which the leaders settled on September 30 for the meeting. 

What could be discussed at the September 30 meeting?

The proposed meeting is expected to focus on:

• Concerns surrounding the Election Commission
• The Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls
• Opposition demands concerning CEC Gyanesh Kumar
• A possible fresh removal notice against the CEC
• A coordinated response by INDIA bloc parties

The exact agenda and participation will depend on the discussions among the opposition parties before the proposed meeting.