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Gauri Lankesh killing: Rationalists set Dasara deadline for govt to find scribe's killers

  • The State government must find the killers of Gauri Lankesh by Vijayadashami or tender public apology, say rationalists 
  • Failure of the state government to nab Prof MM Kalburgi’s killers even after 2 years has emboldened Gauri Lankesh killers
  • Journalist Agni Sreedhar said rationalists are being silenced by creating an atmosphere of fear and violence
Rationalists set Dasara as the deadline for finding Gauri killers

The State government must find the killers of Gauri Lankesh by Vijayadashami or tender public apology, warned the Karnataka Rationalists Forum. A declaration was proposed and accepted at a programme organised at a private hotel on the occasion of conferring Periyar Award, reports Kannada Prabha.

The State government has failed to nab Prof MM Kalburgi’s killers even after two years. That has emboldened Gauri Lankesh killers. Hence, the government must find them by Vijayadashami and punish them. If not the State government must tender a public apology, the Forum demanded. 

The Forum also urged to declare Periyar Day as Anti-superstition Day. The legislators who are opposing the Anti-Superstition Bill must be defeated in the next election. It was also resolved that the government must be urged to issue an order to remove pictures of gods, saints and prophets at the government offices. Textbooks must have lessons encouraging scientific thinking rather than on mythological stories, the forum felt.

Nidumamidi Channamalla Swamy said if serious attempts were made to find Prof MM Kalburgi’s killers, Gauri Lankesh would not be killed. Indirectly, he criticised KPCC president Dr Parameshwar of irresponsibility, who was the Home Minister when Prof Kalburgi was gunned down. Even some organisations publicly declared that five persons would be killed (referring to rationalists), the state did not take any action. But the police are investigating the fresh leaves instead of searching the roots, he said.

Speaking on the occasion, journalist Agni Sreedhar said rationalists are being silenced by creating an atmosphere of fear and violence. He termed the killings as the failure of rationalists but not victory of Sangha Parivar. Kotaganahalli Ramayya who received the Periyar Award said killing a helpless woman is an act of cowardice. Gauri Lankesh was conferred the award, posthumously

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