Hindutva groups force Muslim students to apologise, touch Shivaji’s feet over Friday prayer on campus
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A video of a group of Muslim students being forced to make apologies, do sit-ups and touch the feet of a Chhatrapati Shivaji portrait by a group of right-wing activists, who confronted them after learning that the students had offered Friday namaz with their department’s permission on the campus, triggered the formation of a multi-faith delegation that urged the Maharashtra government to take strict action against the culprits, as the students were left mentally disturbed despite having prayed without disrupting any class.
The incident, which occurred on 21 November at Ideal College of Pharmacy in Kalyan East, unfolded after the students were allowed to use an empty classroom for prayers, yet a fellow student recorded the prayers and circulated the video online, thereby drawing Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal activists who entered the campus and compelled the students to apologise publicly, even though no academic activity had been affected, according to Maktoob media.
The episode, which generated concern about rising communal tensions in educational spaces, prompted social activist Durgesh Gaikwad, along with Sameer Qureshi, Moin Don, Saalim Shaikh, Anand Kumar, Ashfaq Shaikh, Zameer Khan, Altamash Karte and Shehzad Sagar, to meet college administrators on 27 November and demand action.
The group submitted a memorandum calling for a first information report against those who intimidated the students and sought disciplinary steps against the student responsible for the video recording and circulation, while also pressing for counselling for the affected students and for the creation of a designated space where students of all faiths could perform religious practices without fear.
The delegation reported difficulty in reaching the students involved, as they remained unwilling to speak and appeared emotionally distressed, while Saalim Shaikh of the Student Islamic Organisation of India described the confrontation as an attack on the religious and democratic rights of citizens and urged the college and state authorities to strengthen security and prevent similar occurrences.
College officials acknowledged lapses in security and pledged improvements through enhanced patrols, CCTV examination and harmony-building efforts, and they also committed to providing psychological support for the students, while confirming that legal consultations were underway regarding filing a police complaint.
An expanded delegation, including advocates Faisal Qazi, Ammar Nizami, Sagar Kirte, Ashok Mohite and Ravi Bhagat, later met Additional Commissioner of Police Sanjay Jadhav at Thane Police headquarters, where they reiterated demands for action and highlighted legal precedents that emphasise prompt responses to mob-related incidents.
Although Jadhav assured them that inquiries were progressing through CCTV reviews and student interactions, no FIR had been registered, and the college had not identified those responsible for the video leak.
