1994 anti-Urdu riots

Anti-Urdu riots are series of clashes that erupted in and around Bangalore from 7th October 1994. Clashes took place between Pro - Kannada organisations and supporters of ruling Indian National Congress at Jagajeevanram Nagar neighborhood in Bangalore, Karnataka, India.

It also spread to many areas in city assuming a communal characteristic claiming 25 lives, injuries to more than 150 and losses of property worth more than 10 million US dollar.

Background
The riots were believed to be a reaction against a ten-minute telecast of Urdu news on India's national television channel, Doordarshan at prime-time. Amidst increasing communalism in Karnataka, some Kannada language organisations, as well as the Bharatiya Janata Party and Janata Dal claimed was a political stunt by chief minister Veerappa Moily to gain political support among Muslims, which Moily denied and countered to by claiming they had attempted to communalize the broadcast. This was the last serious incident of religious violence in Bangalore until 2007. The riots stopped following decision to discontinue the news bulletin.