Gauri shot because of her ideology: Family

BENGALURU: Gauri Lankesh’s siblings Kavitha and Indrajit said at a joint press conference on Thursday that their sister had no personal rivals and hoped investigators would find her killers soon. They said the killing of their sister was an attack on freedom of expression and a threat to media.
Kavitha, who had been more close to Gauri, said the

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at her Rajarajeshwari Nagar house had been installed about six months ago. On whether Gauri had expressed concerns over her life, she said: “She was never scared. Even after her meeting with the CM recently, she had countered our question over protection and argued against seeking security.”

She said Gauri had observed a man moving around her house over the weekend and told her mother about it. “May be if it was someone less brave they would’ve lodged a complaint. But my sister did not, she thought it was just one person and didn’t pursue it,” Kavitha said.

She strongly denied theories that personal reasons could be behind Gauri’s murder. “Gauri was a lot like my father, she was aggressive in her writing and warm as a person. She used to meet even those people who disagreed with her ideologically. Even in my case (Gauri had difference of opinion with her brother), she never questioned me,” Indrajit said.

Both of them said that Gauri had no property or any other financial dealings that could have led to any personal issues. They reiterated that they believe she was killed because of her ideology.

Indrajit, who has sought a CBI probe into the matter, clarified that he only wanted justice. “I have spoken to my sister and mother. We believe the probe has now begun and we must cooperate with them. However, personally, I want to tell you that if we don’t get justice, I’m willing to take it up and see that it goes to CBI or a committee headed by a retired judge,” he said.

“SIT has been formed and we must give them some time. The chief minister has personally taken interest,” Kavitha said. On whether they had differences between them on who may be behind the killing, Kavitha said: “We are speaking together, and it is to show that we are in it together.” Indrajit, who had told some TV channels on Wednesday that Maoists were threatening her sister, reiterated what he had told TOI late on Wednesday. “It may be the right wing, who she had been criticizing, or the naxals, who I heard were unhappy with her efforts to bring many of them into the mainstream. All that I’m saying is that all angles must be probed,” he said.


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