HDFC employee seeks referendum on citizenship for Muslims, bank assures action against him

Right-wing supporters threatened bank not to act against the employee citing free speech. 

news Controversy

“In 1947, there was no Brexit style referendum to decide if […] Muslims should be allowed to stay in India […].  A bunch of elitists decided that India should be a secular country and forced their idea of India on the rest of the country.  Given a choice, I am extremely confident that an overwhelming majority of Hindus would vote against Muslims being given Indian citizenship.  Why don’t we finish the unfinished business of partition once and for all by taking a Hindu referendum and decide on the idea of India?” 

These were the words posted on Facebook by Akshay Lahoti, an HDFC employee, a day before the results of the Lok Sabha polls were declared.  Calling for a “Hindu referendum”, he added that if a majority of Hindus voted against Muslim citizenship, Muslims should “accept the mandate and move to Pakistan and Bangladesh”, which, according to Akshay, were created for them in the first place. 

After Akshay’s post went viral and screenshots of the same started doing the rounds on Facebook and Twitter, one of the people who shared it on Twitter was user Uzair Hasan Rizvi, a fact checker for AGP Fact Check.  He tagged HDFC in the same. 

The bank replied to him on Tuesday, confirming that Akshay was an employee of HDFC Life, which has been informed about his communal post. “ As an organization and as a group, we strongly condemn such divisive and insensitive comments/views,” HDFC said. 

group, we strongly condemn such divisive and insensitive comments /views.  -Zubin (2/2) — HDFC Bank (@HDFCBank_Cares) May 21, 2019

However, the bank drew flak with right wing supporters threatening to boycott HDFC if they act against Akshay.  They argued that HDFC acting against Akshay would amount impinging on his freedom of speech. 

Dear HDFC, this would be a violation of his basic freedom of speech. 

While we may not agree with his viewpoint, it would be a gross human rights violation to chuck him for expressing his views. 

Indian Constitution needs to be followed here... — Mandheer Chitnavis (@MChitnavis) May 22, 2019

I have an account and credit card and mutual funds with HDFC.  If they any action on him defenetly I will withdraw everything from HDFC May 22, 2019

To @HDFCBank_Cares & @HDFC_Bank,

If you take any action against Akshay for expressing his FOE, you will lose a 'premium' customer with multiple bank accounts, credit cards, mutual funds and investments... And Mr Aditya Puri will know why... — Chaitanya Chinchlikar (@filmy_foodie) May 22, 2019

There is absolutely no need for you to even consider taking action against Akshay Lahoti.  It is just not your business. 

As a Preferred Customer of HDFC Bank for over a decade, I would, in that case, prefer to shift all my monies elsewhere.@Chakravyuh214 — Trupti Lahiri (@truptilahiri) May 22, 2019