Striking out

Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee was visibly upset when public sector bank employees went on strike for two days, so when a prominent Left trade union leader and Lok Sabha MP asked for an appointment, Mukherjee turned down the request. After trying unsuccessfully for two days, the MP landed up in Mukherjee’s office without an appointment. Mukherjee’s aides say the meeting was a stormy one and the MP got an earful from the minister.