Journalists Mourn Gauri Lankesh’s Death, Speak On How The Profession Is Dying A Silent Death

It was a dark Tuesday night at the Lankesh residence at Bengaluru. Senior journalist Gauri Lankesh, editor of ‘Gauri Lankesh Patrike’ (a weekly Kannada tabloid), was gunned down by unidentified assailants.

Known to speak her mind and voice her opinions fearlessly, Gauri Lankesh’s death is being viewed as an attempt at curbing freedom of speech and expression.

#UPDATE: Senior journalist Gauri Lankesh succumbed to multiple bullet wounds on her body (File picture) pic.twitter.com/NShi2KJIM0

— ANI (@ANI) September 5, 2017

#Visual of senior journalist Gauri Lankesh shot dead at her residence in Bengaluru's Rajarajeshwari Nagar (Pic Source: Local media) pic.twitter.com/sV2S9DWyjg

— ANI (@ANI) September 5, 2017

 

The news broke last night and it spread like wildfire. It came as a shock to many and more than anyone, the journalists of the country were shaken by the piece of news.

1. Shekhar Gupta called her an inspiration.

Journalism is nothing without courage. Democracy is nothing without dissent. You had plenty of both #GauriLankesh You live on as inspiration

— Shekhar Gupta (@ShekharGupta) September 5, 2017

 

2. Barkha Dutt pointed at the disparity in outlook in our country.

In India we bow to frauds like Ram Rahim and kill men and women of reason & inquiry like Pansare, Dabholkar, Kalburgi & now #gaurilankesh

— barkha dutt (@BDUTT) September 5, 2017

 

3. Faye D’ Souza called her the voice that was silenced.

Gauri Lankesh was a voice that spoke for all of us. A voice that was silenced. #FreedomOfSpeech #justice #heartbreaker #gaurilankesh

— Faye DSouza (@fayedsouza) September 5, 2017

 

She even urged all to show solidarity.

We should all wear black bands tomorrow. On air and at press conferences and on the field. We should stand together

— Faye DSouza (@fayedsouza) September 5, 2017

 

4. Sargarika was shocked over a friend’s death.

Shocked, horrified that colleague & friend #GauriLankesh shot dead. She was a staunch voice for civil liberties and liberal values.

— Sagarika Ghose (@sagarikaghose) September 5, 2017

 

And took a dig at bought journalists.

Journalists,the few not bought by tycoons or stooges of govt: sing #GauriLankesh's song, work for an India based on Constitution not hatred

— Sagarika Ghose (@sagarikaghose) September 6, 2017

 

5. Rajdeep Sardesai went on a tweet-rant.

Breaking news: Gauri Lankesh, journalist and a critic of Hindutva politics, has been shot dead in Bengaluru. Very disturbing.

— Rajdeep Sardesai (@sardesairajdeep) September 5, 2017

Pansare, Kalburgi, Dabholkar, Lankesh, who is next? What is going on? Why haven't the guilty been caught in previous cases? #GauriLankesh

— Rajdeep Sardesai (@sardesairajdeep) September 5, 2017

Poisonous violence of mind being spread on social media to browbeat critics; on street, its the gun that silences dissent. #GauriLankesh

— Rajdeep Sardesai (@sardesairajdeep) September 5, 2017

To those who use guns to silence dissent, you are cowards. And your bullets may kill but will not deter the brave #RipGauriLankesh

— Rajdeep Sardesai (@sardesairajdeep) September 5, 2017

 

6. Ashutosh called her murder not a routine one.

It is shocking… Gauri Lankesh murder is not a routine murder. She was a fierce critic of extreme right wing.

— ashutosh (@ashutosh83B) September 5, 2017

 

7. Minhaz called it an assault on freedom.

Murder of #GauriLankesh is an assault on freedom. Her ideology irrelevant. Police investigation must be swift, killers booked, justice done

— Minhaz Merchant (@MinhazMerchant) September 6, 2017

 

8. Shobhaa said nothing good will come out of candle marches.

Stop all cliches #gaurilankesh. Candle light marches achieve nothing. Bring pressure on the CM to identify killers.Find them and prosecute.

— Shobhaa De (@DeShobhaa) September 5, 2017

 

9. Siddharth was mourning the death of a gutsy journalist.

Numbed by news of Gauri Lankesh's murder. She was gutsy, level-headed, defiant—everything we need in a journalist in these troubled times.

— Siddharth (@svaradarajan) September 5, 2017

 

10. Rahul Kanwal was saddened by the brutality.

Shocked by the brutal killing of renowned Karnataka journalist Gauri Lankesh. Was our guest in the last elections. Sharp political mind. pic.twitter.com/zEFLrlV1rj

— Rahul Kanwal (@rahulkanwal) September 5, 2017

 

Not only journalists but political leaders too are condemning the act. 

I&B Minister Smriti Irani tweeted too.

Condemn killing of senior journalist Gauri Lankesh. Hope speedy investigation is conducted & justice delivered. Condolences to the family.

— Smriti Z Irani (@smritiirani) September 6, 2017

 

So did Shashi Tharoor.

Saddened by the murder of #GauriLankesh. India wasn't supposed to be a country where journalists are silenced by bullets. Her voice rings on

— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) September 5, 2017

 

Rahul Gandhi’s official handle put up this.

The truth will never be silenced. Gauri Lankesh lives on in our hearts. My condolences &love to her family. The culprits have to be punished

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) September 5, 2017

People are condemning the act and there are protests and marches being held across the nation.

She was convicted of criminal defamation of 2 BJP leaders for an article that she had published in 2008. Her work in the field of journalism lives on and people are saddened by the episode.

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