Bengaluru, Sept 2: Even as the probe into the coldblooded murder of journactivist Gauri Lankesh started making headway gradually, her supporters and opponents are gearing up to mark her death anniversary in different ways.
55-year-old daughter of legendary Kannada thinker P Lankesh was shot dead in front of her house in Rajarajeshwari Nagar in Bengaluru late on September 5, last year. Like her father, Gauri Lankesh had led a media crusade against Hindutva groups including RSS.
The Special Investigation team has already arrested several suspects in the case. All the suspects belong to hardline Hindutva groups such as Sanatan Sanstha. According to sources, the cops may take a few more months to file a chargesheet.
Meanwhile, the Hindu Janajagruthi Samiti, which is closely associated with the Sanatan Sanstha, has planned a protest rally in Bengaluru on September 5, the one-year anniversary of the murder of Gauri Lankesh demanding the immediate release of the suspects. Samiti believes that the arrested are innocents.
On the other hand, the Gauri Lankesh Balaga will be organising a ‘Freedom of Expression convention’ on September 5 in Benglauru. It will see activists, writers and leaders from across the country participate in a sign of “cultural resistance” to the onslaught of attacks on freedom of expression.
Several writers and activists who have been victimised by trolls and are facing death threats will march to Raj Bhavan in protest.
The ‘Raj Bhavan Chalo’ rally will be inaugurated by Swami Agnivesh, who was attacked twice recently. Eight prominent Kannada writers, including Girish Karnad, whose names were on a hit list discovered by the SIT during its probe, are expected to participate. Other participants are Umar Khalid, Anand Teltumbde, whose Goa residence was raided by the Pune police recently, Kanhaiya Kumar, and Teesta Setalvad.
‘Ban Sanatan Sanstha’
Recently, a delegation of writers, journalists and friends of Gauri Lankesh met Home Minister and Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara and asked the State government to recommend a ban on Sanatan Sanstha. The delegation, made up of members of the Gauri Lankesh Balaga, was led by freedom fighter H S Doreswamy, who also chairs the Gauri Memorial Trust.
“The SIT’s probe into the murder has led to the arrest of many associated with the Sanatan Sanstha and its affiliate organisations. There is a growing body of evidence against it. Worryingly, the SIT has also recovered a hit list from the arrested, indicating a plot to assassinate more thinkers. We demand that State government initiate measures to ban Sanatan Sanstha,” said activist K.L. Ashok.
He said Dr Parameshwara had assured them that action would be taken after the probe was completed and if evidence pointed to the involvement of the organisation.
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