Pramod Muthalik compares Gauri Lankesh to 'dog', clarifies later

Sri Ram Sene chief Pramod Muthalik stopped to a shocking new low on Sunday as he slandered the slain journalist-activist and compared her to a "dog." He later clarified his stand.

Muthalik was addressing a public gathering where he slammed the critics who have been asking Prime Minister Narendra Modi to break his "silence" over Lankesh's murder.

"Two murders happened in Karnataka and two happened in Maharashtra during Congress regime. No one is uttering a word over Congress government's failure. Instead, they are asking why is PM Modi silent and commenting on Gauri Lankesh's death," Muthalik said.

"Many wanted PM Modi to react after Gauri Lankesh's death. "Why should Modi react if some dog dies in Karnataka?", Muthalik was quoted saying by a Times of India report.

Muthalik's derogatory statements were met with applause from the crowd who also chanted "Jai Shri Ram" as per the video of the event."

Recently, a picture of Parashuram, with the Sene's chief Pramod Muthalik is being circulated on social media. The photograph was reportedly taken a few years before.
However, Muthalik blatantly refuted allegations that he knewParashuram Waghmore and has even denied that the accused was a part of the Shri Rama Sene.

On Satirday, the Special Investigation Team probing the killing of journalist-activist Gauri Lankesh has summoned Rakesh Math, the Vijayapura district president of fringe right-wing outfit Sri Ram Sene, for questioning, a senior police official said.

The SIT decided to question Math since the suspected shooter of Lankesh, Parashuram Waghmare, was an active member of the Hindutva organisation linked to moral policing in parts of Karnataka, the official told PTI.

Conceding that Math is the district head of Sene, Muthalik said he has been summoned for inquiry because all of them are from Sindagi town and were involved in the Pakistani flag hoisting incident.

Lankesh was shot dead at the entrance of her Bengaluru residence on September 5 last year.