Jamia Graffiti Row: 'Free Kashmir', 'Free Sharjeel Imam' Slogans Trigger BJP-Congress Clash

The Karnataka government has issued a stern warning to information technology firms in Bengaluru against deliberately sidelining Kannadigas in recruitment. Highlighting employment grievances, it was emphasised that Kannadigas are sovereign in the state and that their dignity, rights, and job opportunities remain non-negotiable. Authorities warned that private firms denying jobs to native Kannada speakers or prioritising candidates from other states will face strict government action.

A wave of mass unrest that began over education infrastructure and rising cost of living in France has escalated into violent riots and spread across Europe. In France, nationwide demonstrations drew over 5.5 lakh people, resulting in torched town halls, looted shops, over 2,000 arrests, and curfews in Paris and Marseille. French President Emmanuel Macron announced bans on spontaneous protests and rejected the interior minister's resignation, even as lawmakers challenged government budget cuts and US political figures attributed the violence to immigration. Economic grievances, housing crises, and educational discontent have triggered simultaneous clashes in Belgium, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Greece, and Albania. In response, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni approved tougher penalties and parental liability for riot damages, while German Chancellor Friedrich Merz warned against violence on all sides. With multiple European nations heading into crucial elections, governments face severe pressure to restore order amid compounding economic fallout from global conflicts.

A political row erupted in Kerala after police booked a vlogger for inciting communal hatred and provoking a riot over a viral video targeting Kashi Art Cafe in Fort Kochi. In the video, the content creator questioned why an eatery named after the holy city of Kashi was serving beef and objected to an artwork displaying Mahatma Gandhi alongside Muhammad Ali Jinnah. The cafe management clarified that the name signifies luminescence and radiance rather than a religious affiliation, highlighting that the venue has operated as an iconic art exhibition hub for decades. The controversy quickly triggered sharp political exchanges, with the Bharatiya Janata Party questioning whether equal sensitivity would be shown if an eatery named after a Muslim holy city served pork, demanding that respect for faiths must work both ways.

A political face-off has erupted at Jawaharlal Nehru University as campus walls became a battleground for left and right-wing student groups. The controversy began after left-wing outfits, including AISA, painted slogans such as 'Free Umar Khalid' on university buildings. In response, right-wing students linked to the ABVP wrote counter-slogans, including 'Never free Umar Khalid,' 'Stop Love Jihad,' and 'Akhand Bharat.' Graffiti also featured images of Priyanka Gandhi and Congress MP Bimol Akoijam alongside anti-harassment slogans. This development closely follows similar graffiti and student protests witnessed at Jamia Millia Islamia in the national capital.