FM asks SBI employees to call off strike

Chidambaram also said the bank management has assured the employees their demand would be considered.

Finance Minister P Chidambaram on Thursday asked the striking State Bank of India employees to resume their duties.

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The FM also said there was no justification for continuing the stir as the bank management has assured that their demand would be considered.

Speaking to reporters in Bangalore, Chidambaram said he was informed that unions on Wednesday presented a modified version of their demand and that the management had suggested that they needed some time to consider it.

"So the matter is under discussion. When the matter is under discussion, I would, as a public representative, expect and request SBI employees to resume duty. The discussion will go on and a solution will be found," he said.

"We are a democracy, a law abiding country. We are engaged in discussion. There is no need to inconvenience the people by continuing the strike," Chidambaram said.

Asked if any time-frame was set to resolve the issue, he said it is quite inappropriate for him to set a time-frame, as the Management and Unions are in negotiations.