Student wing members form human chain to shield Muslim students offering namaz outside sealed mosque on Lucknow University campus
Times of India
by MOHITA TEWARIFebruary 23, 2026
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Student organizations at Lucknow University formed a human chain to protect Muslim students offering namaz outside a sealed mosque during Ramzan. Affiliated with groups like Samajwadi Chhatra Sabha, NSUI, and AISA, Hindu student leaders stood guard while their Muslim peers prayed outside Lal Baradari after its gates were welded shut by the administration. The protest, which began over concerns about safety and access to the historic mosque, quickly gained national attention as a symbol of communal harmony.
Lal Baradari, a 200-year-old red-stone structure once used for worship and cultural events, has been a site of daily prayers for Muslim students since the university's inception. The administration closed it, citing structural instability and safety risks after a wall collapse. However, student leaders argued that the sudden sealing without prior notice targeted religious freedom and violated the campus's inclusive ethos.
The protest escalated when police were deployed following the student groups' sit-in to prevent unauthorized fencing around the mosque. Rajya Sabha member Imran Pratapgarhi supported the students, calling the closure insensitive during Ramzan and urging the administration to reopen the historic site for worship.
Lucknow University's decision has sparked debates about religious sensitivity in educational institutions. The incident highlights broader concerns about inclusivity and the role of universities in fostering communal harmony, resonating with readers interested in global social issues and cultural diversity.
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Originally published on Times of India on 2/23/2026