A million bank workers on strike in India

New Delhi - Nearly one million bank employees have gone on a daylong strike in India protesting government reforms in the banking industry.

The Press Trust of India says the protest hit both government-run and private banks Friday. The workers oppose deregulation of the financial sector, including reduction of government equity in several state-run banks.

C. H. Vekatachalam, convener of the United Forum of Bank Unions, said the workers also were against the mergers of some state-owned banks.

The issue was raised in India's Parliament by a Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader. Tapan Kumar Sen said the privatization policy promotes the interests of tycoons.

Some mergers have taken place. The Communists want no new licenses for private Indian banks to be issued.