Sri Rama Sene chief Pramod Muthalik drawing flak for his remark on Gauri “Should PM React If Dog DiesIJ" later retracts.
Pramod Muthalik chief of Sri Rama Sene a fringe right wing element known for its notoriety has created one more controversy by comparing the murder of Journalist Gauri lankesh to the death of a dog. Addressing a public meeting in Bengaluru when he was condemning the critics who had been questioning Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his silence over the murder of Journalist turned activist Gauri lankesh.
He said “Two murders happened in Karnataka and two happened in Maharashtra during the Congress regime. No one is uttering a word over Congress Government’s failure. Instead, they are asking why Modi is silent and not commenting on Gauri lankesh’s death. Many wanted Modi to react after her death. Why should Modi react if some dog dies in KarnatakaIJ”
After facing flak for his remark later Pramod Muthalik clarified that he did not directly compared Gauri’s death to a dog and said he only meant that Prime Minister cannot answerable for every death in Karnataka. Clarifying he said even though he and his organisation had ideological differences they would not stoop down to killing of people. He said “We have not nor will we stoop down to murdering that person.”
Parashuram Waghmare, a native of Sindhagi in Vijayapura district was arrested by the Special Investigative Team (SIT) from north Karnataka’s Vijayapura district last week. A photo was circulated along with Sene chief Pramod Muthalik and he denied any link with Parashuram Waghmare who had reported to have confessed to killing of Gauri.
He said “I attend several functions where people approach me and ask for pictures. Everyone who gets their picture clicked with me is not a member of my organisation. I don’t know who Parshuram is”.
However he Sri Ram Sene chief said he knew Parashuram Waghmare and had advocated for him in 2012 when he along with five others were arrested for hoisting the Pakistan flag in the Sindagi district in an alleged attempt to create communal tension.
Gauri lankesh a journalist turned activist who was very vocal in her criticism of right wing Hindu organisations was shot dead by two bike-borne assailants outside her residence in Bengaluru on 5 September 2017. The murder triggered a nationwide outrage leading to then Chief Minister of Karnataka Siddaramiah constituting a special investigation team to probe the murder. The team led by inspector general of police BK Singh has so far arrested six people, identified as KT Naveen Kumar, Sujith Kumar, Amol Kale, Manohar Edve, Amit Degvekar and Parashuram Waghmare. Sri Rama Sene is a right wing fringe element known for its 2009 attack on Young men and women at a pub in Mangaluru.
The comment comparing the journalist’s killing to that of a dog was “disgusting, nauseating, revolting”, said Congress leader Manish Tiwari, wondering in a tweet whether the PM would condone it.
The SIT has summoned Sri Rama Sene leader Rakesh Math for questioning.