Varanasi’s Uday Pratap College witnessed heightened tensions on Friday, December 6, as a large group of students staged a protest demanding the removal of a mosque located on the campus.
Hundreds of students gathered at the college gate, chanting slogans of “Jai Shri Ram” and waving saffron flags. Attempts to forcefully enter the campus were thwarted by police stationed at the entrance, ensuring the situation did not escalate further.
Student leader Vivekanand Singh argued that if the mosque’s land does not belong to the Waqf Board, the structure should be removed.
To manage the growing unrest, authorities restricted campus access to only those with valid identity cards, a measure implemented on Thursday after tensions flared earlier in the week.
On Tuesday, students recited the Hanuman Chalisa near the mosque during the time of namaz, further aggravating the situation.
Mohammad Yaseen, joint secretary of the Anjuman Intezamia Masjid Committee, revealed that he had contacted the Uttar Pradesh Central Waqf Board to verify the mosque’s status. He stated that the board had clarified the matter, noting that its earlier 2018 notice identifying the mosque as Waqf property was rescinded on January 18, 2021.
“There is no reason for the current controversy,” Yaseen said, calling for calm.
Police remain vigilant to prevent further disturbances as the campus grapples with the ongoing dispute.