A day after Sri Ram Sene Chief Pramod Muthalik allegedly referred to slain journalist-activist Gauri Lankesh as a dog, Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy warned of strict action against those supporting illegal activities.
“I don't want to say anything. Whether Muthalik or anyone, if he or she violates the law and supports illegal activities, we are going to take strict action against them,” CM Kumaraswamy told reporters.
I don't want to say anything. Whether Muthalik or anyone, if he or she violates the law & supports illegal activities, we are going to take strict action against them: HD Kumaraswamy, CM of Karnataka on Pramod Muthalik's controversial comment regarding Gauri Lankesh murder case. pic.twitter.com/uPejjN9i6v
— ANI (@ANI) June 18, 2018
The Sri Ram Sene is under the scanner of the Special Investigation Team probing the death of Gauri Lankesh after it arrested Parashuram Waghmore. Parashuram, who is the suspected shooter, is a member of the Sri Rama Sene. A picture of Parshuram and Muthalik together has been widely shared.
However, Muthalik has denied knowing Parashuram personally saying that thousands of people take photographs with him.
Rakesh Math, Vijayapura district president of Sri Ram Sene was questioned regarding the case following Parashuram’s arrest.
Addressing a gathering in Bengaluru on Sunday, Muthalik had said, “Sri Ram Sene doesn't have any role in the murder of Gauri Lankesh. Everyone is saying that Hindu groups conspired to kill Gauri Lankesh. But two murders in Maharashtra and two in Karnataka took place during Congress regime. But no one is saying anything about the Congress government's failure. Instead they ask why PM Modi has kept mum about her murder. Why should PM Modi react? Do you expect Modi to respond every time a dog dies in Karnataka?"
However, Muthalik had later denied comparing Gauri with a dog. He said that he was not directly comparing Gauri to a dog but merely saying that Prime Minister Modi could not react to each death that happened in Karnataka.
Sri Ram Sene had come to prominence in 2009 after the group allegedly carried out a brazen attack on young pub-goers in Mangaluru in a case of moral policing.