Kolkata, Aug. 11 -- Theatre artists of Kolkata painted the old ticket counter at the heritage Academy of Fine Arts white on Tuesday, a month after some Hindutva group members painted the structure saffron and erected a portrait of Bharat Mata -a lion-riding goddess holding a saffron flag - beside it.

The Academy of Fine Arts was established in 1933 by Lady Ranu Mukherjee and Maharaja Prodyot Kumar Tagore to promote Indian art. The old ticket counter is beside the main gate.

"We raised our voice and met Samik Bhattacharya (the state president of the Bharatiya Janata Party) after some people painted the room saffron around July 6. He did not support the act and said he would get the room repainted," prominent theatre personality Chandan S...