Lucknow, 16th July 2022: The Lulu Mall in Lucknow has put up a board banning all forms of religious activity on its property. This decision comes after a video went viral where it was seen that some individuals were doing namaz within the mall. This caused a huge uproar on social media.
The board put up in the mall in Hindi and English reads, “No religious prayers will be permitted in the mall.”
Sameer Verma, “The mall’s general manager said, “All religions are respected at Lulu Mall. Here, no religious activity of any type, including prayer, is allowed. Our floor workers and security personnel are trained to monitor such acts.”
The videos of a group of men offering namaz in an open space within attracted the wrath of Hindu right-wing organisations.
Following the outrage, mall officials filed an FIR on Friday against unidentified individuals under sections 153 A(1) (promoting enmity by words, either spoken or written, by signs or by visible representations on the basis of religion), 295A (deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting religion or religious beliefs), 341 (wrongfully restraining any person), and 505 (statements conducing to public mischief) of the Indian Penal Code.
The protest group Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha has declared, “This is not a Lulu mall, it is Lulu Masjid.”