Bengaluru: To continue the legacy of slain journalist Gauri Lankesh, friends and activists known to Gauri launched the Gauri Memorial Trust at Central College on Monday.
The trust and its official website were launched by A.K. Subbaiah, former MLC, Teesta Setalvad, a journalist and activist, Siddharth Vardarajan, editor of an online news website, H.S. Doreswamy, freedom fighter, Devanuru Mahadeva, an author, and others.
Doddipalya Narasimhamurthy, who was Gauri’s friend, said, “People from the state, country and different parts of the world have asked about the future of Gauri Lankesh tabloid. To keep it running, we have formed the trust and in the first meeting we decided that Mr Doreswamy will be the trust president. The trust has 17 members, including Vardarajan, Setalvad, Devanur Mahadeva and others.”
A team will be formed to resume the operation of the tabloid, which will be supported by the trust. Seminars, conferences and workshops will be organised across the state and country to educate people about ethics of journalism and activism. Ethical and honest journalists will be identified and honoured with awards every year.
Siddharth Vardarajan, said, “We are gathering at a time when there is an assault on the freedom of expression and speech. We live in a time when someone raises a voice against injustice or corruption, they are physically assaulted, in fact even assassinated.”
Murders of Dabholkar, Panesar, Kalburagi and Gauri are yet to be solved, but the government seems to be in no hurry. “It is a pity that people threaten to behead, murder and rape others, for example the crew and cast of Padmavati. These threats are unleashed by a few people who are supported by top leaders. On the other hand, we have courts issuing gag orders not to publish certain case proceedings involving powerful people. Everyone has the right to protest and right to know about public matters. The state may not eliminate people who raise their voice, but it is supporting the people who do the job for them.” Setalvad said, “Look at Bababudangiri issue in Chikkamagalur. We don’t want it to be Ayodhya of the South.
The state government should look into the expert committee report and resolve it. We are living at a time when onion and tomato prices have gone up and no one talks about it. But there is time to discuss Ram Mandir and Babri Masjid. We have approached the Supreme Court asking it to look into it as a fundamental issue not as a religious one.” Gauri’s sister Kavitha said, “I am not part of the trust, but will ensure that if there is any breach of my father’s principles, I will intervene. About investigation, we are hoping that something positive will emerge at the earliest.”
Subbaiah said, “No one knows who killed Gauri, but the conspirators are well known. The police have not been able to get hold of the killers and it’s because they are blessed by powerful leaders.”
