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The murder of journalist-activist Gauri Lankesh whipped up a political storm on Wednesday, with Opposition parties alleging that the “hate politics” of the Sangh Parivar underlay the murder.
The BJP, on the other hand, said the Congress government in Karnataka had failed to maintain law and order and was blaming its political opponents for its incompetence. The Union Home Ministry, meanwhile, sought a report from the State government.
Congress president Sonia Gandhi, expressing shock and distress, urged Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to swiftly bring the culprits to book. “Every possible measure should be taken to maintain a safe atmosphere in the State,” she said in a statement.
“The killings of rationalists, free thinkers and journalists has created an atmosphere that dissent, ideological differences and divergence of views can endanger our lives. This cannot be tolerated,” she said.
Party vice-president Rahul Gandhi said anybody who speaks against the RSS or the BJP is attacked and even killed. “They want to impose only one ideology, which is against the nature of India,” he said.
“Sometimes (Prime Minister Narendra Modi) speaks under pressure but the entire idea is to crush dissent,” he said on Twitter.
Attacking the Congress, Union minister Nitin Gadkari said the party’s attempt to link Lankesh’s murder with the BJP was baseless and false.
“The government, the BJP or any of its organisations have no connection with the killing,” he told reporters.
Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting Smriti Irani condemned the killing. “Hope speedy investigation is conducted and justice delivered. Condolences to the family,” the minister said on Twitter.
Addressing a protest meeting organised by various journalists’ associations, CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury said there is an “eerie pattern” in the murders of MM Kalburgi, Govind Pansare and Narendra Dabholkar. He said the Sangh Parivar is fostering a climate of bigotry, hate, intolerance and violence in India.
CPI general secretary S Sudhakar Reddy said it is not accidental that all of the murders are meticulously planned and organised in the same way.
“It is high time that such terrorist organisations should be banned. A CBI enquiry should be ordered into the murder of Gauri Lankesh,” he demanded.
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