LU student outfits face off over Lal Baradari’s closure

Lucknow: Tension prevailed at the Lucknow University on Monday when students affiliated to the Samajwadi Chhatra Sabha (SCS), National Students' Union of India (NSUI) and the All India Students' Association (AISA) came face to face with members of some right wing organisations over offering of ‘namaz' outside historic Lal Baradari on the campus.The student bodies were protesting against LU's decision to seal the entry gates of Lal Baradari that also houses a mosque when the right wing members came and started raising religious slogans. In response, the SCS, NSUI and AISA also shouted some religious slogans and "Vishwavidyalaya hamara, aapka—na kisi ke baap ka" (The university belongs to all of us, not to any individual).
LU officials said that a bank and canteen that were operating from the building were shut long back. The decision was taken to seal it after a wall of the dilapdated structure collapsed recently.Police and proctorial board members prevented the situation from turning ugly. Later, the students affiliated to student bodies protested outside the vice-chancellor's office and gave a memorandum to the proctor demanding opening of mosque entrance or allocation of a place where Muslim students can offer namaz.The right wing members, too, gave a memorandum to the police asking for action against those who offered namaz outside Lal Baradari.Later, the police asked 13 students, including those affiliated to NSUI, SCS and AISA, to appear before JCP, law and order. These students have been challaned for creating law and order issues by staging protests and offering namaz outside Lal Baradari.It all started on Sunday when LU authorities sealed the entrance of the mosque in Lal Baradari on grounds that the building is dilapidated and poses threat of life to anybody using it.However, the Muslim students and student bodies supporting them said that unlike other parts of the Lal Baradari, the mosque had been renovated several times and didnot pose any risk.On Sunday evening, Muslim students performed namaz and broke their fasts, while Hindu students affiliated to SCS, NSUI and AISA formed a human chain around them. The video went viral on social media with many calling it a representation of Lucknow's Ganga-Jamuni tehzeeb."LU's Muslim students have been offering namaz in the mosque since the university's inception," said SCS representative Navneet Kumar.NSUI national coordinator Vishal Singh said "How would you feel if you visit a place daily for worship and suddenly you find doors sealed."Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad state zonal convener Aman Dubey denied any involvement of his organisation in the matter, but said LU sealed Baradari for safety reasons.LU spokesperson Mukul Srivastava said, "The historic building is in a dilapidated condition. After a wall collapsed recently, the university declared it a restricted zone, but some students continue to enter the building, hence the decision to seal it was taken. University is corresponding with the Archaeological Survey of India regarding restoration of the building."Lal Baradari once housed the teachers' association office, a bank, a cafeteria and a staff club, all of which were evacuated around a decade ago due to the building's fragile condition.Congress MP Imran Pratapgarhi supported the students offering namaz saying that LU administration should immediately open Lal Baradari for students.Only red-stone building in LucknowAccording to records, Lal Baradari is the only red-stone building in Lucknow from the Nawabi era. It was known as Badshah Bagh in the 18th century. The foundation stone was laid by Nawab Ghaziuddin Haider Shah in 1814, and the building was completed by his son Naseeruddin Haider Shah in 1820.