‘I am Gauri’ – read placards. Slogans of “Long live Gauri” rang the air. A large number of activists held a march from Bengaluru’s Maurya Circle to the Raj Bhavan on Wednesday to mark the first death anniversary of journalist-activist Gauri Lankesh.
The delegation on Wednesday was led by Gauri’s sister Kavitha Lankesh, freedom fighter HS Doreswamy, playwright Girish Karnad, social activist Swami Agnivesh, lawyer Teesta Setalvad, journalist Siddharth Varadarajan and writer Chandrashekar Patil among others. Gujarat MLA and Dalit activist Jignesh Mewani, student leader Umar Khalid, Karnataka Komu Souharda Vedike
After the delegation reached Raj Bhavan, the Gauri Balaga and Gauri Lankesh Memorial Trust has submitted a joint six-point memorandum to Karnataka Governor Vajubhai Vala.
The memorandum asked for the following:
1. Direct the state government to declare Sanatan Sanstha as an organisation promoting terror
2. Direct the state govt to take all steps to ban its terrorist propaganda and its terror activities
3. To investigate the finances and political patronage of these organisations
4. To recommend that that central government also take similar steps
5. To direct the state govt to take steps to contain hate propaganda in all forms
6. To direct the govt to take campaigns among the youth to inculcate values of harmony, peace and mutual respect and other constitutional values on a war footing.
After the march, an event was at the Jnana Jyoti Auditorium to commemorate Gauri Lankesh’s first death anniversary.
“No one had the will to face the Hindutva forces in the coastal districts like Gauri. On March 10, 2015 there was an attempt to kill me. The very next day Gauri called me and told me to be cautious. Gauri knew her life was under threat. She refused security. I didn't so I may be alive now. But she was brave. She fought for the right causes. Now I am proud to be on that hit list. I am proud that I scared them so much that they put me on the hitlist,” Narendra Nayak said, speaking at the event.
“What is horrifying now is not what the Naxals or terrorists are doing but what the police are saying. The accusations against rationalists are a complete hogwash. It is not rational talk. It's scary because they believe they can do what they want. Someone in Pune is investigating the case and someone in Delhi is directing them. This is grim,” said playwright Girish Karnad.
Activist Swami Agnivesh, who was attacked recently allegedly by BJP youth members, blamed RSS ideology for Gauri Lankesh’s murder.
“I am delighted that people from across the country have come here. They thought if Gauri is assassinated, our protests will stop. They even tried to kill Umar Khalid but well, they weren't successful. Weren't Pansare, Kalburgi and Gauri Hindus?” he lashed out. “Now RSS is stronger because they’re in power. Dabholkar, Pansare, Gauri and many have died battling them. Sanatan Sanstha's name has cropped up now. RSS is a hydra-headed monster. We need to fight them.”
Gauri Lankesh was shot dead outside her home in Bengaluru on September 5 last year. A SIT formed by the Karnataka police is investigating the case and 13 people have been arrested in connection with her murder.
Former JNU student leader Umar Khalid who also addressed the gathering said, "They feel that it's been a year since Gauri died. I can see Gauri Lankesh in every corner of this room. They killed one Gauri but with it 1000s of Gauri's were born in the country. I salute Gauri Lankesh because she was brave. They killed her because she scared them. I protest against Narendra Modi for following people who rejoiced in Gauri's deaths."
He continued, "The language used to speak against Gauri shows their mindset. I request people not to use the word Sanghi2dogs. Because dogs are loyal and protect you. Sanghis don't do any if those. They are sycophants of big businesses. We are going to take Gauri Lankesh's teachings. She taught us to not be violent. She knew that her life was in danger. We know about the hit list. But that does not make us scared. It makes us want to fight back. Gauri was labelled anti national and this is because of the central government, because of the anchor who comes on TV at 9pm to say the nation wants to know."
