Opposition parties reacted sharply on Tuesday night, condemning the gruesome murder of senior journalist Gauri Lankesh .
“Gauri Lankesh was never afraid to expose communal forces. Ever since BJP came to power Hindutva forces have become aggressive, at one level they resort to mob-lynching and at another level they carry on individual annihilation. Secular and democratic forces must standup to this challenge,” CPI MP D. Raja told The Hindu .
Ms. Lankesh’s murder follows equally violent deaths of rationalists M.M. Kalburgi , Govind Pansare and Narendra Dhabolkar . Flagging the trend CPI (M) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury said, “The cold-blooded murder of Gauri Lankesh is reprehensible. Dabholkar, Pansare, Kalburgi — such murderous violence has an errie pattern.”
He also questioned on forces behind building up an atmoshphere of intolernace and violence. “Who has fostered this climate of bigotry, hate, intolerance & violence in India that took her life today? Why was she such a threat to them?” Mr Yechury said.
Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi tweeted, “The truth will never be silenced. Gauri Lankesh lives on in our hearts. My condolences and love to her family. The culprits have to be punished.”
Congress general secretary B.K. Hariprasad, who is from Karnataka and was a friend of Gauri Lankesh, told The Hindu : “This is shocking news and that too from Bengaluru, once considered one of the safest cities in the country. Earlier, there was no place for right-wing activity in Bengaluru. Gauri was very noble and upright, known for her rational critique of right wing politics. This was a cowardly attack by people opposed to her thinking. I am sure that the Karnataka government will conduct a serious investigation.”
Congress leader Kapil Sibal pointed out that Ms. Lankesh lost her life because of her contrarian views. “Gauri, a rationalist silenced by gunshots. Her murder is an attempt to stifle reason, to silence those holding contrarian views. Tragic,” Mr. Sibal tweeted.
Weat Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamul Congress President, Mamata Banerjee has called out for immediate arrest of the perperators. “Saddened at the killing of journalist Gauri Lankesh in Bengaluru. Most unfortunate. Very alarming. We want justice,” Ms. Banerjee tweeted.
