We should all speak up so that no more Gauris are killed: Indira Lankesh
Bengaluru: Interview with Indira Lankesh, mother of slain journalist and activist Gauri Lankesh. Probe into the death of Gauri has not come out with anything concrete...
We have full faith in the state government. Compared to the killings of other activists, the government is really serious about this case. They are really working hard to crack the case and nail Gauri’s killers.
The strength of the Special Investigation Team has come down from 200 to 50. Most of them have been sent back to their parent departments...
It has got nothing to do with the numbers. They have collected all crucial data and done a lot of leg work immediately after the team was formed. Now the team doesn’t need these many people, so could have downsized it.
Do you think the case should be handled by the CBI as the SIT has done nothing more than releasing the sketches of the suspects?
The SIT is doing its job. We do not want the case to be handed over to the CBI
Do you feel there is an atmosphere of intolerance prevailing in the country?
Yes, of course. I feel there is intolerance in the country especially when it comes to journalists. We should all speak up so that no more Gauris are killed.
Do you suspect the hand of a right wing organisation behind the murder of Gauri?
We do not suspect anyone. We are waiting only for the SIT to find out who
killed Gauri and why they killed her.
‘Gauri was more like a mother than daughter’
Its been a few weeks since her daughter, Gauri, was gunned down outside her home, and Indira Lankesh mustered enough strength to appear for a discussion at the Bengaluru Literature Festival on Saturday. But the evening saw her break down several times, leaving the audience wiping a tear or two as well as she spoke of her courageous journalist/activist daughter.
It was while she was dwelling on her autobiography, ‘Hulimavu Mattu Naanu’ as part of a panel discussion titled ‘Anthara Gange’ that Indira broke down several times on stage, recalling Gauri. At times she was inconsolable , making the audience emotional too. Gauri was more like a mother to her than daughter, she said.
Speaking of her own journey, she recounted how she transformed from a simple homemaker to a successful entrepreneur to support her family after her husband resigned from the Bangalore University and had still not founded his famous ‘Lankesh Patrike’.
“My husband, Lankesh , who was a professor , received a notice from Bangalore University for his political views. He immediately resigned and did not inform anyone. I got to know of this only later. I was afraid thinking about the future of our three children. After a lot of thought I started a saree business and supported the family,” she told the audience .
“Along the way I learnt many life lessons from my daughter, Gauri” she recalled, weeping inconsolably.
