PANJIM: Goa Union of Journalists (GUJ) held a protest meet at the Azad Maidan, Panjim, to condemn the assassination of senior journalist and activist Gauri Lankesh in Bengaluru. The protest was attended by social activists, writers, columnists and politicians apart from journalists.
With slogans of ‘Amar Rahe Amar Rahe Gauri Lankesh Amar Rahe’ and placards stating ‘The pen is mightier than the gun’, the journalists demanded proper investigation of Lankesh murder and justice to the scribe.
Bringing to memory the assassination of rationalists Dabholkar, Pansare and Kalburgi, GUJ President Kishore Naik said, “The assassination of the writers and scholars is an indication to those who wish to uphold democracy that these forces will destroy democracy if we do not stand united. As journalists, we will not bow down to such threats and incidences and as a united force fight all extremist forces.”
Photojournalist Association President, Ganesh Shetkar, demanded that GUJ write to the Home Ministry as well as the Chief Minister of Karnataka demanding a thorough probe in the murder.
A former colleague of Lankesh, Sheela Ramanathan said, “Apart from being a journalist, Gauri was a committed human being who believed that India should be democratic and the allegations against her of inciting communalism and being biased towards a particular religion is false.”
Social activist Ramesh Gawas said there is an attempt to dislodge the country from the very important foundation of democracy and as a symbol we see these assassinations. “The biggest threat is when those at the helm of affairs and government remain silent. There is a silent consent from the state government and the central government,” he stated.
Kalanand Mani of the Peaceful Society termed the assassination as murder of the voice to protect democracy, secularism and fraternity in the country.
Fr Maverick Fernandes of Caritas – Goa said, “Democracy is under serious threat under present times and all should come together for a long deliberation and action.”
“This cowardly act assumes importance due to the chain of assassinations of thinkers, scholars and journalists across the country over the last few years,” Fr Maverick said.
Columnist and advocate Cleofato Almeida Coutinho said that fanatic forces are getting emboldened due to the current political leadership. He said. “This has created hatred as a weapon to get the country’s polity polarised and we must get united at this point of time.”
Leader of Opposition, Chandrakant Kavalekar in a statement said, “In democracy everyone has freedom to speak, but what we see today in India is dictatorship. Media is a fourth pillar of democracy and its safety is now biggest question.”
