Ghazanfar Abbas, IndiaTomorrow.net,
New Delhi, Sep 7: The cold-blooded murder of senior journalist Gauri Lankesh in Bengaluru has shocked and saddened millions and millions, but rather than sitting at home, hundreds and thousands of them coming out in different parts of the country saying: I Say No To Fear & Hatred, Silence Is No Longer An Option and Your Bullets Do Not Scare Us.
One such gathering of spirited people – men and women, young and elderly – was seen at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on Thursday.
Eminent citizens protest at Jantar Mantar in Delhi on 7 Sep 2017 against the killing of journalist Gauri Lankesh
Gathered at the call of #NotInMyName campaign of filmmaker Saba Dewan, they were from different walks of life – students, teachers, journalists, poets, writers, social activists, human rights activists…Many were known and renowned and many others unknown common people.
Some known faces included: Saba Dewan, Manoj Mitta, Manisha Sethi, Suhail Hashmi, Manglesh Dabral, Amit Barua, Kavita Krishnan…
Addressing the gathering, senior journalist Amit Baruah said: “In the last three years, lots of things have changed in the country. Gauri Lankesh was not just watching these things, she was writing about them and criticising and saying as they are. She was telling the truth to power and that is what disturbed people.”
He also strongly condemned the way TV channels are manufacturing issues and ignoring basic issues of common people.
Kavita Krishnan, Secretary, AIPWA and Editor of ‘Liberation’ periodical, said: “This is a badge of honor if killers enlist people like Gauri Lankesh. TV channels are supari channels who provoke killings. My appeal to media is to use conscience. We ask PM Modi why the demand of Hindu Rashtra from outfits like Sanatan Sanstha is not sedition. We should raise our voice with commitment of courage.’
On Wednesday also, hundreds had gathered at Press Club of India in the national capital to register their protest against Gauri’s killing.
