Protest In Bengaluru Against Honouring Alleged Killers Of Gauri Lankesh

Activists from the Veerashaiva Lingayat Coordination Committee and progressive thinkers gathered in Bengaluru to protest against the honouring of individuals accused in the murders of scholar M M Kalburgi and journalist Gauri Lankesh. These individuals were celebrated by right-wing extremist groups, sparking outrage among the protestors.

The demonstration occurred near the Basaveshwara statue, close to Chalukya Hotel. It saw participation from Congress MLA B R Patil, advisor to Karnataka's Chief Minister, along with Gauri Lankesh's mother, Indira Lankesh, and her sister, Kavita Lankesh. The protest was a response to recent events in Vijayapura, North Karnataka.

Honouring Alleged Criminals

In Vijayapura, 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 recruited for a right-wing crime syndicate. Both men were released on bail by a special court in Bengaluru on October 12, 2024, after spending six years in prison.

Waghmore and Edave were associated with extremist groups targeting individuals like Gauri Lankesh and M M Kalburgi. Both victims were seen as adversaries of Hindutva ideology due to their progressive beliefs. Their murders in 2017 and 2015 respectively shocked many across India.

Family's Anguish

Kavita Lankesh voiced her distress at the protest over the honouring of her sister's alleged killers. "Our family has already endured immense suffering. Honouring the killers is an insult to the memory of Gauri and Professor Kalburgi," she stated. 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.

Prominent Protestors

The protest featured notable figures such as former minister B T Lalitha Naik, former MLC Mohan Kondajji, activists K S Vimala, K R Subhash, and members of the Dalit Sangharsh Samiti. The demonstrators were eventually detained and taken to Vidhana Soudha police station.

The activists' call for justice reflects broader concerns about delays in India's legal system that allow perpetrators to evade accountability. They argue that such delays undermine societal peace and justice for victims' families.