The two Hindu right-wing organisations of Sri Ram Sene and Hindu Janajagruti Samiti, closely associated with the Goa-based Sanatan Sanstha, have sought to disassociate themselves from those arrested — six till date — in connection with the murder of journalist-activist Gauri Lankesh.
“None of those arrested are associated with us or workers of Sri Ram Sene or Janajagruti Samiti. But they are innocent Hindus being framed as part of a political conspiracy,” said Pramod Muthalik, national president, Sri Ram Sene, addressing a public meeting here on Sunday.
Mr. Muthalik also launched a tirade against Gauri, questioning her stand on Kashmir and how she could call “anti-nationals” like Kanhaiya Kumar and Umar Khalid, her adopted sons.
Parashuram Waghmore, 26, hailing from Sindagi, now said to be the one who pulled the trigger on Gauri, is allegedly a Sri Ram Sene activist.
Mr. Muthalik first claimed Waghmore was not a Sene member and he did not know him at all, till his arrest.
But later he acknowledged that he knew him and had engaged an advocate on his behalf in 2012 when he along with five others were arrested for hoisting the Pakistan flag in Sindagi in an alleged attempt to fan communal passions.
“In 2012 too, I had said the six arrested were linked to the RSS and other Hindu organisations apart from Sene. But only our organisation was targeted. When no other Hindu organisation defended them, I engaged an advocate,” he said.
On social media campaigns supporting Waghmore post his arrest, he said it was done by local activists in Sindagi and was not an initiative of the Sene.