Shillong, Sept 7: In Meghalaya, condemnation poured in against the murder of senior journalist from Bengaluru, Gauri Lankesh, even as journalists in Shillong held candle light vigil at Khyndai Lad on Thursday to express solidarity and denounce the ghastly act.
Organised by the Shillong Press Club and Meghalaya Electronic Media Association (MEMA), the candle light vigil was in memory of Lankesh was participated by people cutting across communities and political affiliations.

Besides lighting of candles, people also put their signature on a banner, condemning the killing of Lankesh.

Meanwhile in a statement issued here, Lok Sabha MP from Tura, Conrad K. Sangma condemned the incident and said, “any violent crime against anyone is a matter of concern for all of us. Civilized societies do not condone or justify crimes such as murder.”

He said that apart from being a citizen, Lankesh was also a bold and outspoken journalist and activist.
“It is likely that her killing was related to her work. This is therefore also an attack on the media and on activism. A free press is one of the pillars of a democratic society and such attacks cannot be allowed to go unpunished,” Conrad said.

The Tura MP called upon the Karnataka government to ensure speedy justice in this case and cases of similar nature in the past years, adding that guilty must be found and brought to book.

“Incidents of this nature have international ramifications and hurt India’s image in the world,” he said while urging the Centre to look into the matter as well.

“Justice must not only be done, but be seen to be done, for the sake of Lankesh, Bengaluru, and India,” the MP said.
The Thma U Rangli Juki (TUR) also expressed shock at the brutal murder of Lankesh, a fearless journalist and committed secularist from Karnataka.

“Her killing which is the latest in the murder of rationalists and progressive citizens of this country like Govind Pansare, Naresh Dobholkar, Prof Kulbargi by the forces of Hindutva fascism whose anti-democratic, anti-reason ideology cannot withstand any dissent” said activist, Angela Rangad on behalf of TUR.

“Today the saffron brigade lies exposed in its venomous ideology. These people do not even respect the dead. Many of them have tweeted their hate full approval of this murder. Many of these are followed by Mr. Narendra Modi himself. This is not an aberration or death of a ‘controversial’ person but a premeditated silencing of progressive and secular voices of India who choose to challenge the Hindutva brigade, Rangad said.

Mourning the death of Lankesh, Rangad said, “TUR is also determined to challenge saffron fascist terrorism at both political and ideological fronts in Meghalaya. TUR is also in solidarity with journalists who are at the receiving end of the establishment intolerant murderous behavior.”