Media personnel, politicians, writers condemn killing

Journalists, writers, artists and politicians in Kerala today condemned the killing of senior Kannada journalist Gauri Lankesh.

Protest marches were taken out in different parts of the state by media personnel, who sported black badges and held placards condemning the shooting of Lankesh by unidentified assailants at her residence last night.

The marches were organised by the Kerala Union of Working Journalists of Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi, Kozhikode and Kannur and various press clubs.

At the Thiruvananthapuram Press Club, journalists paid floral tributes to a portrait of the veteran editor and lit candles.

Later, a condolence meeting was organised.

Ruling CPI(M), the Congress and BJP condemned the killing.
 

CPI(M) state Secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, described it as an "insult" to the civilised society.

The manner in which it was carried out was similar to the attacks on rationalists M M Kalburgi, Govind Pansare and Narendra Dhabolkar, he said.

"A "powerful" voice against communalism and corruption has been silenced. She was a journalist at the forefront of progressive activities and had been vocal against the sangh parivar's extreme stands," he said in a Facebook post.

In a series of tweets, former union minister Shashi Tharoor, MP, said, "Assassination is the most extreme form of censorship. #Gauri lankesh said things some people did not like2 hear. She was killed 4 doing her job."

"India wasn't supposed to be a country where journalists are silenced by bullets. Her voice rings on," he stated.

BJP state president Kummanam Rajasekharan said Lankesh's murder was "shocking".

"Such attacks against democratic values should be condemned and those behind the crime should be brought to book as early as possible," he said in a statement.

The BJP leader also questioned on what basis CPI(M) and Congress were attacking the Sangh Parivar over the killing.

A protest meeting of writers, poets and artists was held at the University College here this evening under the banner of 'Purogamana Kala Sahitiya Sangam' (a forum of progressive artists).