Srishti art institute in Bengaluru downs shutters after anti-Modi graffiti appear

Bengaluru: An art institute in Bengaluru here announced a two-day shutdown after a BJP MLA and party workers wiped out graffiti on its outer walls, claiming them to be anti-Modi.

They allegedly bullied students against holding any agitation against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). Students posted on social groups that they were bullied about such things as 'why do you wear short skirts', 'why do you smoke', etc.

The BJP workers led by Yelahanka MLA S R Vishwanath allegedly also got the traffic police to tow away the vehicles of students and faculty parked in front of Srishti Institute of Art Design and Technology, alleging that they were blocking the road.

Some students alleged that BJP workers and the institute’s management got the traffic police to threaten them against painting graffiti on the walls. They said the BJP workers warned them against organising any protests against the CAA or the National Register of Citizens (NRC), and that a few local residents joined them and raised complaints about the conduct of the students.

Local BJP workers said the MLA and a few party men went to the locality on receiving complaints from local people about vehicles blocking the road, and when they came across the graffiti on the institute’s walls, they painted it over with saffron paint to “avoid any controversy”. The BJP members claimed there was no altercation with the students as was being alleged.

However, it is not known on who drew the graffiti, which the BJP claimed depicted the prime minister in poor light.

The institute has declared a holiday on Thursday and Friday to avoid escalation of trouble, sources said. This effectively is a shutdown until after the weekend. Students posted on social media that they've been told not to "walk in groups, be out late, wear small clothes."

On Tuesday, graffiti had appeared overnight on the shutters of some shops and walls on Church Street against Modi, CAA and NRC, following which the Bengaluru police have launched an investigation.