{
  "id": 711213,
  "title": "Saffron to white to saffron again: No end to controversy over painting of Kolkata’s Academy of Fine Arts",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/12/saffron-to-white-to-saffron-again-no-end-to-controversy-over-painting",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-12T23:12:23.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Hindu",
    "slug": "the-hindu",
    "url": "https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/kolkata/saffron-to-white-to-saffron-again-no-end-to-controversy-over-painting-of-kolkatas-academy-of-fine-arts/article71337383.ece"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The controversy surrounding Kolkata’s Academy of Fine Arts persists as rival political factions continue to change the color of a security room within the building. After the room was painted saffron last month, protest took place by theatre practitioners. Following this, artists and CPI(M) leader Bikas Ranjan Bhattacharya repainted the room white. This was swiftly followed by BJP led delegates changing the color back to saffron, causing continued uproar. BJP's rise to power in West Bengal has led to similar color changes at other government buildings and structures. Now, the government is considering moving the secretariat to the Academy building, prompting further debate.",
  "summary": "BJP state president Samik Bhattacharya said that action will be taken against the ones who did it as politics of colour is not part of BJP’s agenda.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}