Team Clarion
NEW DELHI — The mother and sister of slain journalist Gauri Lankesh joined hundreds of demonstrators protesting against the recent honouring of the individuals accused of her murder.
Mother Indira Lankesh and sister Kavita Lankesh were part of the protest by activists from the Veerashaiva Lingayat Coordination Committee and progressive thinkers near the Basaveshwara statue, close to Chalukya Hotel in Karnataka’s capital city on Saturday.
The demonstration which also saw the participation of BR Patil, Congress MLA and advisor to Karnataka chief minister, was in response to recent events in Vijayapura where Hindutva groups like Sri Rama Sene honoured Parashuram Waghmore and Manohar Edave. Waghmore is accused of shooting Gauri Lankesh, while Edave is alleged to have been recruited for a right-wing crime syndicate. Both men were released on bail by a special court in Bengaluru on October 12, after spending six years in prison.
Waghmore and Edave were associated with extremist groups targeting individuals like Gauri Lankesh and noted scholar MM Kalburgi. Both victims were seen as adversaries of Hindutva ideology due to their progressive beliefs.
Kavita Lankesh voiced her distress over the honouring of her sister’s alleged killers, media reports reaching here said. “Our family has already endured immense suffering. Honouring the killers is an insult to the memory of Gauri and Professor Kalburgi,” she was quoted as saying. She urged for special courts to handle such sensitive cases promptly.
The activists criticised the glorification of criminals by highlighting similar instances like those involved in the Bilkis Bano case who were also honoured post-incarceration. “It is detrimental to civil society to portray individuals who disturb the peace as heroes,” they declared in a statement.
The protest also featured notable figures such as former minister BT Lalitha Naik, former MLC Mohan Kondajji, activists KS Vimala, KR Subhash, and members of the Dalit Sangharsh Samiti.
