Killers of Gauri share same mentality as those who killed Bapu: CM Siddu

Hameed Ashraf | NT

Bengaluru: ‘‘I met Gauri several times, and she had even interviewed me multiple times. But during our many meetings, she never discussed her problems, let alone asked for help," Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah said.

He added that her discussions mainly focused on issues related to injustice, tribes, naxals, communalism, and women's rights.

"Her killers shared the same mentality as the one who killed Mahatma Gandhiji (Bapu)," the CM said, assuring that justice will be served.

The Gauri Lankesh Memorial Trust organised an event at Town Hall in the city in memory of Gauri Lankesh, a dedicated activist and journalist who confronted right-wing Hindutva extremism and advocated for India's marginalised communities.

Around 8:15 pm on September 5, 2017, she was shot in the head and chest by alleged right-wing armed assailants on the doorstep of her home in Rajarajeshwari Nagar.

"Six years have passed since my dear sister, a courageous journalist, fell victim to a cowardly act of murder. However, what her killers did not know was that Gauri is still alive in the hearts of everyone who raises their voice against communalism, inequality, and injustice," Kavita Lankesh, Gauri's sister, said.

Prakash Raj, actor, and social activist, recalled meeting a person who had recently threatened to murder him for his comments on a rape and murder case of a minor college girl.

"The person was driven by hate and had no knowledge of right or wrong," he said.

"With the elections fast approaching, we are in a situation where we have to choose a side rather than remain neutral or mute spectators. And our fear is what gives them strength," Prakash Raj added.

KK Shailaja, popularly known as Shailaja Teacher, was a former Minister of Health and Social Welfare in Kerala.

"By re-imagining India in authoritarian times, we must unite to defend our nation against extremists who spread lies and hate among people. For this, we need to draw inspiration from Gauri," she said.

"If we fail to unite against hate in the 2024 elections, we will regret it, and there might be no elections next time," Shailaja added.

Rakesh Tikait took a dig at the Modi government and said that the BJP's plan to rule over people is by promoting the gods they worship. "In some states, Rama is worshipped, while people in other states worship Hanuman.

The BJP accordingly promotes gods to gather votes. However, this time Karnataka has sent a message to the nation by choosing development," he said.

An activist from Meghalaya, Angela Rangad, spoke about the violence in Manipur, which she said is an experiment by those in power to exploit the natural resources of the land.

"The BJP regime has left us with few choices. The leaders have been diverting public attention towards illogical schemes. There can never be one nation, one religion, one belief, and one government. Do they even understand how people survive in the hills? Instead of development, the doubleengine government in the last nine years has only doubled violence, corruption, and communalism," she said.

Supriya Shrinate, a former journalist and national spokesperson for the Indian National Congress (INC), said that BJP leaders are engaged in changing people's identities.

"The people who never took part in the Indian freedom struggle will never understand the value of patriotism," she said.