State Bank of India branches in Dadar and Govandi in Mumbai had issued a notice that these branches will remain closed every Friday instead of Sunday starting December 1, 2022. This decision was opposed by vigilant citizens and various Hindu organizations including the Hindu Janajagruti Samiti.
A delegation led by Hindu Janajagruti Samiti had submitted memoranda to the the Govandi branch, Dadar branch and the main branch at Nariman Point and demanded that this decision be rescinded. Today, the State Bank of India announced on its Twitter handle, that the bank has withdrawn this decision. This attempt to pander to a particular community is condemnable in a secular society. Hence the Hindu Janajagruti Samiti welcomes the bank’s decision. The Samiti has also said that such practices will be opposed wherever they are in force.
In view of the public sentiment and their convenience, we have decided to maintain the status quo in respect of 'weekly off' of the few branches including Govandi Branch. The 'weekly off' will continue to be on Sunday / Monday, as usual.
— CGM (Mumbai Metro Circle), SBI (@CGMSBIMum) November 30, 2022
The common man was under the impression that the State Bank of India had started taking pro-Muslim decisions. Decisions favouring a particular religion in government controlled institutions tantamount to injustice to other religions. The Samiti, in its memorandum had questioned the Bank’s motive behind changing the weekly day off from Sunday to Friday. They had also asked whether we were living in Pakistan to have Friday as the day off. The Samiti had warned of agitations if the decision was not withdrawn. Although the bank has now withdrawn its decision, the Samiti has demanded that the Union government should conduct a thorough investigation into the matter and initiate stringent action against those responsible for such decisions.
