Around 450,000 bank employees of both public sector and private sector banks across the country went on a strike Wednesday, paralysing banking services. They were opposing the merger and consolidation of public sector banks.

"We are striking keeping the merger issue of the State Bank of Indore with the State Bank of India in the front. But in general it is our policy to oppose merger and consolidation of public sector banks," Rajen Nagar, national president of one of the unions - All India Bank Employees' Association (AIBEA) - said.