Bank of Maharashtra Officers Seek CM’s Intervention After MNS Workers Assault Staff
Bank of Maharashtra Officers Seek CM's Intervention After MNS Workers Assault Staff
The Bank of Maharashtra Officers’ Association has written to Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis seeking strict action against individuals who threatened and assaulted bank employees. The association also urged the CM to instruct the police and district collectors to ensure the safety of bank staff and government property.
This appeal follows separate incidents in Ambernath and Lonavala, where Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) workers allegedly confronted two bank managers for not speaking in Marathi with customers.
A video shared by the association from the Lonavala branch shows MNS workers arguing with a manager. When another employee tried to step in, he was allegedly slapped and pushed out of the cabin.
Rajeev Tamhane, chairman of the association, said that bank officers are recruited through a pan-India process. “They come from different parts of the country and are posted anywhere in India. It is not practical to expect every officer to know the local language,” he said in the letter.
He added that some antisocial elements are threatening and physically assaulting bank staff. “We condemn such criminal acts. They disrupt daily banking operations and harm customer service,” Tamhane said.
The letter also demanded that bank management, including managing directors and zonal heads, take strong steps to protect staff. “If no immediate action is taken, we will be forced to protest through strikes and legal steps,” the letter warned.
The MNS, founded by Raj Thackeray in 2006, has long promoted the ‘Marathi manus’ agenda. With civic elections due later this year, the party appears to be once again pushing the Marathi pride issue to rally support.
