A delegation of writers, journalists and friends of slain journalist Gauri Lankesh met Home Minister and Deputy Chief Minister G. Parameshwara on Friday and asked the State government to recommend a ban on the Goa-based Sanatan Sanstha. The delegation, made up of members of the Gauri Lankesh Balaga, was led by freedom fighter H.S. Doreswamy, who also chairs the Gauri Memorial Trust.
“The Special Investigation Team’s probe into the murder has led to the arrest of many associated with the Sanatan Sanstha and its affiliate organisations. There is a growing body of evidence against it. Worryingly, the SIT has also recovered a hit list from the arrested, indicating a plot to assassinate more thinkers. We demand that State government initiate measures to ban Sanatan Sanstha,” said activist K.L. Ashok.
He said Dr. Parameshwara had assured them that action would be taken after the probe was completed and if evidence pointed to the involvement of the organisation.
Meanwhile, the Hindu Janajagruthi Samiti, which is closely associated with the Sanatan Sanstha, staged a protest in Hubballi on Thursday against the proposal to ban the organisation. The Samiti has also organised a protest rally in Bengaluru on September 5, the one-year anniversary of the murder of Gauri Lankesh.
Convention and rally
On the same day, the Gauri Lankesh Balaga will organise a ‘Freedom of Expression convention’ on September 5 in the city. It will see activists, writers and leaders from across the country participate in a sign of “cultural resistance” to the onslaught of attacks on freedom of expression.
Meanwhile, several writers and activists who have been victimised by trolls and are facing death threats will march to Raj Bhavan in protest.
The ‘Raj Bhavan Chalo’ rally will be inaugurated by Swami Agnivesh, who was attacked twice recently. Eight prominent Kannada writers, including Girish Karnad, whose names were on a hit list discovered by the SIT during its probe, are expected to participate. Other participants are Umar Khalid, Anand Teltumbde, whose Goa residence was raided by the Pune police recently, Kanhaiya Kumar, and Teesta Setalvad.