Mumbai – State Bank of India Branches in Dadar and Govandi in Mumbai had issued a notice that they will remain closed every Friday (instead of Sunday) starting 1st December 2022. This decision was opposed by vigilant citizens and various Hindu organisations including the Hindu Janajagruti Samiti (HJS).
A delegation led by HJS submitted a memorandum to the Branches at Govandi, Dadar and the Main Branch at Nariman Point and demanded that this decision be taken back. In response, the State Bank of India announced on its Twitter handle that the Bank has withdrawn its decision.
This attempt to pander to a particular community is condemnable in a secular society. Hence, HJS welcomed the Bank’s decision to withdraw its earlier order. HJS has also said that such practices will be opposed wherever they are in force.
The common man was increasingly coming under the impression that the State Bank of India has started taking decisions which favoured the Muslims. Decisions favouring a particular religion in Government-controlled institutions tantamount to injustice to the other religions.
In its memorandum, HJS had questioned the Bank’s motive in changing the weekly day off from Sunday to Friday. It had also asked – Are we living in Pakistan to have Friday as the weekly day off ? HJS had warned of agitations if the decision was not withdrawn.
Although the Bank has now withdrawn its decision, HJS has demanded that the Union Government conduct a thorough investigation into the matter and initiate stringent action against people responsible for such decisions.