SHILLONG: Local student and social organizations in Meghalaya—including the Khasi Students’ Union (KSU), Federation of Khasi Jaintia and Garo People (FKJGP), Confederation of Meghalaya Social Organisations (CoMSO), and Hynñiewtrep Integrated Territorial Organisation (HITO)—enforced the closure of bank branches across the state on Sunday, protesting a central government directive requiring banks to remain open on a day considered sacred by the predominantly Christian population.
Activists visited multiple branches of major banks, instructing staff to shut down operations and citing the importance of Sunday for church services, worship, and family time.
In official statements, group leaders urged the central government and banking authorities to respect the region’s cultural and religious practices when issuing work directives.
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The intervention challenged recent Ministry of Finance and Reserve Bank of India orders to keep banks open on Sunday amid fears of a prolonged banking shutdown caused by an impending three-day national strike by the United Forum of Bank Unions.
While online banking services remained operational, physical branch activities were halted across Meghalaya following the social groups’ protests.
(4FrontMedia news)
