'Gauri never preached violence,' recalls family friend

After her father passed away in 2000, Gauri started her own Kannada newspaper 'Gauri Lankesh Patrike'.

A family friend of slain journalist Gauri Lankesh, remembered her as an honest journalist. Gauri Lankesh was shot dead by unidentified miscreants on Tuesday. She was known for her anti-BJP and anti-RSS political views.

Journalist-turned-writer NK Mohan Ram said Gauri lived with Marxists ideology throughout her life.

Mohan Ram, currently settled in Bengaluru, was her host in Delhi, when Gauri went to pursue Diploma in Journalism at IIMC in the early 80s.

Mohan Ram said, ''She came to Delhi for Diploma in Journalism. She stayed with my family in early 80's. Gauri was very close to her father Lankesh, but did not imbibe her father's literary qualities.

'' Well, her father held anti-establishment views, Gauri was known for her anti-BJP, anti-RSS political views. She never preached violence in her writings. '' recalled Mohan Ram.

Gauri was also on the committee of Members of the civil society, including freedom fighter H.S. Doreswamy, advocate A.K. Subbaiah to put pressure on the Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to accept the surrender of three Naxals -Kanyakumari and her husband Shivu and their associate Chennamma- in June 2017.

After her father passed away in 2000, she started her own Kannada newspaper 'Gauri Lankesh Patrike'.

Mohanram said, ''This act is to silence critics. So far they have killed intellectuals like Prof MM Kalburgi and Govind Pansare, now they are targeting journalists.''

''My wife is insisting me to stop writing,'' added Mohan Ram.

Gauri Lankesh was shot dead by unidentified miscreants on Tuesday at her Raja Rajeshwari Nagar residence, Bengaluru. It is been reported that the miscreants fired three shots at Gauri, when she was standing outside her residence. She collapsed on the spot and succumbed to the injuries.

She remained single after separation from her husband journalist Chidanand Rajghatta.

OneIndia News