Thiruvananthapuram, March 28 : In Kerala, 25,000 bank employees and officers working in 7600 branches and offices participated in the 48-hour General Strike that began on Monday. All-India Bank Employees’ Association (AIBEA) Joint Secretary KS Krishna said “Striking bank employees took out rallies and processions. Hundreds of employees participated in the rally held at the state capital Thiruvananthapuram. Strike will continue for tomorrow.” The country-wide 48-hours General Strike called by the Central Trade ons and Industry-wise Federations raising 12-point charter of demands that began today crippled Banking Services in 28 States and 8 on Territories as five lakh bank employees in Public Sector, Private-Cooperative-Foreign and Regional Rural Banks, he said in a release. AIBEA demanded withdrawal of Banking Laws Amendment Bill aimed privatisation of public sector banks, stringent measures for recovery of big-ticket defaulted bank loans, scrapping of corporate loan-write-off policy, increasing of rate of interest on Bank Deposits, reduction of service charges for Customers, he said. The other demands include scrapping of new pension scheme and restoration of DA linked defined benefit Pension scheme for Employees, stoppage of outsourcing, filling up of all vacant posts through recruitments, regularization of all contract Employees and business correspondents etc, he added. DS GNK