BENGALURU: Protests against the killing of journalist and activist Gauri Lankesh, which began minutes after she was shot dead by two unidentified bike-borne men, picked up momentum early on Wednesday starting at 5 am and went on till dusk at various parts of the state.
Hundreds of Kannada writers, progressive thinkers, social activists and common people congregated at the Town Hall at 10.30 am to condemn the killing. They shouted slogans holding placards against the fascist forces and their desperate acts to silence dissenters.
Besides, journalists across the state marched to respective deputy commissioner's offices and submitted memorandums pressuring the state government to arrest the culprits at the earliest. A group of journalists marched from Bengaluru press club to the Vidhana Soudha legislature and submitted a memorandum to CM Siddaramaiah, seeking immediate action to bring the culprits to book. "We strongly believe that such silencing methods are an attempt of divisive forces in a democratic system to stifle the media," the memorandum said.
“I am very disturbed as well as pained when my friend M.M. Kalburgi was shot dead. The pain continues to increase with the death of Gauri. I hope the two murders lead to a large people's movement against fascist forces. This is a continuous struggle which we have to keep fighting," writer Chandrashekhar Patil said.
Protests were also held at Nayak Bhavan, Press Club, Mysore Bank Circle and other parts of the city and parts of the state including Mysuru, Dharwad, Kalaburgi, Mangaluru, Vijayapura, Hubballi, Mandya and Gadag.
Twitterati: The good, the bad and the ugly
Good
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar? @SriSri
An attack on a journalist is an attack on democracy. Since the Vedic Ages,we have stood for freedom of expression in India. #GauriLankesh
Randeep S Surjewala? @rssurjewala
While PM Modi maintains stoic silence, he follows trolls who shamelessly rejoice murder of #GauriLankesh.
Meira Kumar? @meira_kumar
Deeply disturbed by the cowardly killing of #GauriLankesh , yet another brave voice silenced.
Shekhar Gupta? @ShekharGupta
Journalism is nothing without courage. Democracy is nothing without dissent. You had plenty of both #GauriLankesh You live on as inspiration
Yogendra Yadav? @_YogendraYadav
It's our collective responsibility to save this country at a time when the very idea of India is under threat #GauriLankesh
Swapan Dasgupta? @swapan55
Today let us mourn and grieve the tragic murder of #Gaurilankesh . Tomorrow let's ensure that the law is upheld & justice done
Prakash Javadekar? @PrakashJavdekar
I strongly condemn brutal murder of journalist #GauriLankesh . @siddaramaiah govt must conduct speedy & fair investigation to nab culprits.
Bad
Jagrati Shukla? @JagratiShukla29
2/n I never condoned her murder. All I have said is that I won't mourn her demise & that I don't have an iota of sympathy for
Ugly
Jagrati Shukla? @JagratiShukla29
2/n I never condoned her murder. All I have said is that I won't mourn her demise & that I don't have an iota of sympathy for #GauriLankesh
Nikhil Dadhich @nikhildadhich
The journalist died a dog's death and all the ******* (sympathisers, sic) are mewling.
