Shillong, Sep 27: Bank branches across Meghalaya remained shut today after several pressure groups and civil society organisations enforced closure of banks that were asked to operate on Sunday.
The protest follows a directive for public sector banks and regional rural banks to work today ahead of the three-day nationwide bank strike from September 28 to 30. The central government said the move was to ensure continuity of financial services.
In Shillong and other parts of Khasi-Jaintia Hills, the Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) shut down banks operating on Sunday.
In a statement, the KSU said the action was to uphold the sanctity of Sunday, which holds deep religious significance for Christians. It said the shutdown was to demand respect for the day of worship and church services, especially in a state where a majority of the population are Christians.
The Confederation of Meghalaya Social Organisations (CoMSO) also opposed the Centre’s decision and visited bank branches across the state calling for closure of regular operations. CoMSO said Sunday holds deep religious and social significance in Meghalaya and the decision has caused concern among the public. CoMSO urged the authorities to consider the unique social and religious context of Meghalaya while taking such decisions.
In Garo Hills, several organisations staged a joint protest against the opening of banks on Sunday. The organisations said they had learnt of a communication from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) regarding banking operations on September 27 and decided to oppose it.
The joint statement was issued by the All A·chik Youth Welfare Society (AAYWS), Association for Democracy and Empowerment (ADE), A·chik Youth Welfare Association (AYWO), Federation for A·chik Freedom (FAF), Federation of Khasi-Jaintia and Garo People (FKJGP) and Garo Students’ Union (GSU).
The groups said the issue was not limited to banking operations but concerned the broader protection of religious sentiments and the observance of Sunday as a day of rest in the predominantly Christian state.
FKJGP Garo Hills Zone President Pritam Arengh said, “We are very concerned [about] the rising targeting of Christian dates. In the past, the central government has even designated 25th December – which is Christmas – as ‘Good Governance Day’ and called for the functioning of offices on [that sacred day], which Christians believe [to be] the birth date of our Lord Jesus Christ,” Arengh pointed out.
The FKJGP leader, however, maintained that the various groups disallowed the functioning of banks on Sunday to demonstrate that they could not remain “silent spectators” when their religious sentiments were allegedly targeted.
“We assure other communities that we bear no grudge against them, but rather against policies that target Christians and our religious sentiments,” Arengh underscored.
The Hynniewtrep Integrated Territorial Organisation (HITO) also inspected and protested against banks that were open for business on Sunday.
HITO visited banks including Punjab National Bank (PNB), State Bank of India (SBI), South Indian Bank, YES Bank, Canara Bank and Central Bank of India at various locations including Mawkyrwat, Dawki, Shillong, Mairang, etc.
HITO said it understands the importance of banking services but maintained that functioning of government or banking institutions should not disregard the special significance of Sunday in Meghalaya, which is a day for congregational worship, prayer and spending time with family and community.
