Bank Staff Safety Concerns Escalate After MNS Workers Allegedly Assault Officers Over Language Dispute
Mumbai – The Bank of Maharashtra Officers’ Association has written to Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, demanding immediate action against individuals allegedly involved in threatening and assaulting bank employees. The appeal comes in the wake of two incidents reported from Ambernath and Lonavala, where Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) workers reportedly confronted bank staff over the use of the Marathi language.
According to the association, the incidents involved MNS members objecting to bank managers not speaking Marathi with customers, resulting in heated confrontations. A video from the Lonavala branch, shared by the association, shows party workers arguing with a manager. When another staff member intervened, he was allegedly slapped and pushed out of the office.
In the letter to the Chief Minister, association chairman Rajeev Tamhane stated that such behavior was unacceptable and endangered the safety of employees. “Bank officers are recruited through an all-India process and can be posted anywhere in the country. Expecting each officer to be fluent in the local language is unrealistic,” he wrote.
Tamhane further added that antisocial elements are targeting bank staff, leading to disruptions in daily operations and customer services. “These are criminal acts that must be dealt with firmly. They not only create fear but also affect the public’s access to essential banking services,” he said.
The association has also urged bank management, including managing directors and zonal heads, to take proactive measures to safeguard employees. The letter warned that if no action is taken, the union may be compelled to initiate strikes and legal proceedings to protest against the lack of safety.
The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena, led by Raj Thackeray, has long championed the cause of the ‘Marathi manus’ (Marathi identity). With civic elections expected later this year, political observers believe the party may be reviving its Marathi-first agenda to consolidate support among local voters.
Meanwhile, the officers’ association has called for immediate intervention to prevent the recurrence of such incidents and to ensure that banking staff can perform their duties without fear or intimidation.
