Pics: Dayanand Kukkaje
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (SB)
Mangaluru, Sep 28: ‘Freedom and Fraternity March ‘ was held by like-minded people against silencing and dissent in the state with specific emphasis on condemning the killing of journalist Gauri Lankesh and demanding justice on Thursday, September 28.
The march started from Ambedkar circle in the city and ended at Nehru Maidan.
Speaking to the gathering HV Vasu a friend of Gauri Lankesh and columnist of Lankesh Patrike said, "After the murder of Gauri hundreds of protests have been held in the state and in the county. In coming days also there will be many protests and gatherings in the name of our beloved Gauri. This gatherings are not a celebrations. We are demanding justice through this protest. These protests are warnings to anti- social, communal forces and silent governments,”
“Farmers, Dalits and other poor people also took part for freedom of the country. They gathered in various places and agitated against British. Labour class also played a vital role in our freedom fight. But today our independence history gives a different picture. Nowadays these forces are explaining fraternity in wrong way. As per them the fraternity is applicable only for few people and few things. We all have share in this nation. We are all equals. Without fraternity there is no nation. The preface of our constitution clearly tells it. “ he added.
“Today our fraternity is in danger. The people who are in ruling us themselves are not following fraternity and they are doing nothing to save it. Gauri was a reformer of religion. He fought against the bad things which prevail in religion. So her killers are anti- religion. They are against the true religion of this nation,” he concluded.
In her speech Kavita Krishnan, secretary of AIPWA and social activist said “The incumbent Indian government is not ready listen to people and the public. It is unhappy with questioning by them. If anyone questions them it brands them as anti-nationals,”
“It is good to see that the people of Karnataka have kept up the issue of Gauri Lankesh. They want to know who the killers are and who their sponsors are. State government is also accountable for the murder of Gauri. They have not caught the killers of Kalburgi. From this the killers and their sponsors have gained more confidence,” she said.
“Now the question is who killed Gauri Lankesh, Kalburgi or others. But we can get the answer based on the celebrations made by some forces in various forms including in social media after the killings of these progressive thinkers. We know with whom these celebrators are associated and how,” she added.
“Now they are trying to project Gauri as a bad woman. These forces are very clever in dividing the society in the name of religion and nationalism. Some media are also supporting them and making their work easy. Some channels are mentioning the progressive thinkers’ names and calling them anti- nationals. This is not called journalism. These are corporate houses that support the violence in the nation,” she said.
“Presently our country is facing financial crisis. Our job growth is very low. Demonetisation has destroyed the economy. Ordinary people are suffering in various ways. Government is only busy in the matter of cow and love. But we the true Indians and we will not allow to labelling good people as bad.” Kavita concluded.
Avinash and John introduced Dr HV Vasu and Kavita Krishnan.
Hundreds of students and like-minded people participated in this march and shouted slogans "I am little Gauri.”