‘She was like our mother’: Kanhaiya Kumar, Jignesh Mevani on Gauri’s murder

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NEW DELHI: Journalist-activist Gauri Lankesh who had been vocal against right-wing forces and Hindutva politics was murdered on Tuesday night of 5 September by three unidentified assailants outside her residence in Rajarajeshwari Nagar in West Bengaluru.

The fearless journalist died instantaneously after she took more than one bullet.

Gauri’s “adopted children” former JNUSU president Kanhaiya Kumar and Jignesh Mevani, the Dalit leader from Gujarat  have condemned the cold-blood murder of veteran journalist.

JNU student leader Kanhaiya Kumar shared a photograph of himself with Lankesh  on Twitter saying,

“Deeply shocked and saddened at the cowardly murder of Gauri Lakesh! She was like a mother to me. She will always be alive in my heart,” Kumar wrote.

ALSO READ: Saffron extremist celebrating Gauri Lankesh’s murder

Kanhaiya added: “Gauri Lankesh taught me to speak truth to power. She was fearless in her fight against hate. We resolve to carry on her struggle.”

Lankesh’s murder marked “a black day for Indian democracy”, tweeted Mevani.

Condemning the murder, Dalit leader Mevani, in an emotionally packed Facebook post,  said he is left “speechless” and wrote: “This country has become unbearable.”

“She would relentlessly write against hindutva forces. She paid the price for being fearless and doing every bit to fight against Sangh and BJP. I m completely speechless. This country has become unbearable. This fascist forces will kill each and every voice of dissent…they will turn this country into a hell. I can’t believe this. I m shocked like never before,” Mevani wrote.

Every time me and Kanhaiya would go to Bangalore she would strictly instruct the organizers that we would stay only and only at her place. She would come all the way from her place to pick me up even if I land at midnight. She would put us in touch with all the like minded forces in Karnataka. I can’t believe that I won’t be able to see her again. I won’t be able to take khakhara from Gujarat for her ever ever again- Jignesh Mevani

“This is a major loss for the civil society of Karnataka. This is the murder of democracy and rationality. Down with dark devil forces who killed such a beautiful soul.. Gauri you will always and always remain in my heart, in our hearts,” he added.

JNU student leader Umar Khalid and Shehla Rashid also took to Facebook to condemn Lankesh’s assassination.