If Gauri was dealing with naxals why was security not given: Centre asks Karnataka

Gauri was 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 surrend

Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on Friday asked the Karnataka government why the slain journalist Gauri Lankesh was not provided security if she was helping naxals surrender with government's consent.

Addressing the media, Ravi Shankar Prasad asked Karnataka CM Siddaramiah whether "a fair probe by SIT" is expected in the case.

Gauri was 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.

Ravi Shankar Prasad also questioned the liberal intelligentsia's silence over the murders of BJP-RSS workers in Kerala and Karnataka. "Condemning every murder correct but why my liberal friends maintained silence after killings of BJP-RSS workers in Kerala and Karnataka".

He slammed Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi's allegation against RSS and right wing ideology for the murder of Gauri Lankesh.

It may be recalled that Union Minister Nitin Gadkari on Thursday termed as "irresponsible, baseless and false" the allegations linking the killing of journalist Gauri Lankesh to the BJP or people following its ideology.

"The present government, the BJP or any of its organisations have no connection with the killing of journalist Gauri Lankesh," the Road Transport, Highways, Shipping and Water Resources Minister told reporters.

Kannada journalist-activist Gauri Lankesh, known for her left-leaning outlook and forthright views against Hindutva politics, was shot dead by unidentified assailants at her residence in Bengaluru on September 5. Gauri, aged 55, had returned home in her car and was opening the gate when motorcycle-borne assailants fired at her indiscriminately with two bullets hitting her in the chest and one on her forehead, police officials said.

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