Protest rally in Bengaluru on Tuesday against Lankesh murder

A protest rally will be held in the city on Tuesday to protest against the killing of journalist-cum-activist Gauri Lankesh a week ago here, said an organiser on Monday.

"Hundreds of activists, thinkers and writers from all over the country will participate in the protest rally, demonstration and a public meeting at Central College grounds," forum convenor K. Leela told reporters here.

The 55-year-old firebrand editor of the weekly Kannada tabloid by her name "Gauri Lankesh Patrike" was brutally gunned by yet unidentified men outside her home in the city's southwest suburb on September 5 night.

Among those participating in the event are CPI-M General Secretary Sitaram Yechury, noted social activist Medha Patkar, well-known journalists P. Sainath and Sagarika Ghose, Prashant Bhushan and Yogandra Yadav of Swaraj India, documentary producers Anand Patwardhan and Rakesh Sharma, and civil rights activists Teesta Setalvad, Kavitha Krishnan and Jignesh Mevani and film producer Praksah Rai.

The progressive forum - "Gauri Lankesh Hatya Virodhi Vedike" will take out the peaceful rally from the railway station to the Central College where the participants will demonstrate and some of them will address the gathering around noon, seeking justice to Lankesh and bring her assailants to book.

"The forum of progressive thinkers, writers, social activists, artistes and intellectuals was formed on last Friday to fight against Lankesh killing and decided to hold the national-level aresistance convention' here," noted Leela.

"We are expecting about 50,000 people to participate in the event, including religious heads and progressive seers, besides people from all walks of life," she hopeda.

Patriotic songs, street plays, screening of short films and paintings and music concerts expressing resistance against Lankesh killing will be held during the day-long event.

--IANS

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