Student protests broke out at Lucknow University on Wednesday, February 18, 2026, during the visit of Mohan Bhagwat, chief of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), who was in the city for a two-day programme.
Bhagwat visited the university to attend an RSS centenary outreach event and interact with students, research scholars, and members of the academic community. However, members of the National Students' Union of India (NSUI), the student wing of the Indian National Congress, staged protests near the university entrance before the programme began. Protesters raised slogans such as “Bhagwat go back” and “RSS Murdabad”.
A student leader, requesting anonymity, alleged that more than two dozen students were taken into custody. “We are opposing the RSS centenary celebrations at LU. The university is run with taxpayers’ money for academic purposes. The RSS is a private ideological platform that has nothing to do with the welfare of the country. We don’t want LU to hold any function on the RSS or allow Bhagwat, a hatemonger, to enter the campus. Unfortunately, the university administration fortified the campus for him,” the student said.
Vishal Singh, national coordinator of the NSUI, claimed that police detained protesters in batches and released them after Bhagwat left. “The university is organising programmes to support the RSS but they refuse us permission to organise any events. Bhagwat is poisoning society and we oppose him. He symbolises hatred in Indian society,” he said.
Lucknow University Vice-Chancellor Jay Prakash Saini described the event as a “cultural function” attended by several dignitaries.
Another NSUI leader, Ahmed Raza Khan, said the protest was against the RSS chief’s visit to a campus known for its “secular traditions” and alleged that the RSS promoted “polarisation” in society.
A police officer present at the scene said some protesters attempted to cross barricades, prompting officers to use mild force to disperse the crowd. Several students were detained in batches and taken to the nearby Hasanganj police station.
Bhagwat’s visit coincided with an ongoing national debate over the University Grants Commission (UGC) equity regulations aimed at preventing caste-based harassment in higher education institutions. The Supreme Court of India stayed these regulations on January 29, 2026, noting they could have “sweeping consequences” and potentially divide society.
Lucknow University had previously witnessed protests over the UGC regulations, adding to tensions on campus during Bhagwat’s visit.
