Ranchi: Social activists have strongly condemned the assassination of senior journalist Gauri Lankesh. Adding on to the voices was renowned activist and former IAS officer Harsh Mander, who has just reached Ranchi, with his Karwan-e-Mohabbat, a unique peace yatra, which aims at fighting communalism and spreading peace.
Saddened by the Gauri Lankesh’s murder, Mander, while addressing the Press meet said, “It was Gauri Lankesh who taught me how to fight against the politics of hate.” He then asserted, “Only by spreading the message of love, we can fight today’ crisis.”
Gauri, the Editor of Lankesh Patrike, a weekly Magazine, was very active on social media, and was a vehement critic of politics of hate. She had recently translated Rana Ayyub’s book Gujarat Files, in Kannada. She was well-known for being a critic of Right-wing extremism.
The 55-year-old writer learnt the journalistic ethics from her father, a firebrand writer, while her sister is a renowned film maker. Gauri used to consider Umar Khalid and Kanhaiya Kumar, the former Jawahar Lal Nehru University Student Union (JNUSU) president as her sons.
On Tuesday around 8pm, three assailants, open fired at Gauri, just outside her residence in Karnataka. Of the seven bullets pumped into her, two pierced into her chest and one on her forehead, thereby, killing her on the spot.
Those present in the press meet of Mander’s Karwan-e-Mohabbat, spoke about Gauri and her contribution to Indian journalism. They even observed two-minute of silence as tribute to her.
Across India, protests are being organized against the murder and the act to suppress freedom of expression in India.
The Karwan-e-Mohabbat, which started from Assam from September 4, will be touring eight Indian states. Mander, will soon be visiting Giridih to meet dairy farmer Usman Ansari, who has recently been lynched on suspicion of cow slaughter.
