Do you expect PM's reaction every time dog dies in K'taka?: Pramod Muthalik on Gauri Lankesh murder case
Bengaluru, June 18 (IBNS): Making a controversial statement, Karnataka-based right wing group Sri Ram Sene's chief Pramod Muthalik on Monday came out in defence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's silence on the murder case of journalist Gauri Lankesh, media reports said.
Addressing a gathering in the capital of Karnataka, Muthalik said: "Everyone is saying that Hindu groups conspired to kill Gauri Lankesh, but two murders in Maharashtra and two in Karnataka took place during Congress rule."
"No one questioned the Congress government's failure... instead these Left-leaning intellectuals ask PM Modi to speak on Gauri Lankesh's death. Do you expect Modi to respond every time a dog dies in Karnataka" the Sri Ram Sene chief questioned.
Muthalik has been quoted by NDTV.
Muthalik's comment has eventually drawn criticisms from several political leaders including the principal opposition party, the Congress.
Congress' Manish Tewari called Muthalik's comment as "disgusting" and "nauseating".
Tewari tweeted, "Disgusting,nauseating, revolting...vigilante group Sri Ram Sene’s Head Pramod Muthalik compares assassinated journalist Gauri Lankesh to a dog. Mr Prime Minister @narendramodi you did not condemn Gauri Lankesh’s murder are you now going to condone this too"
Disgusting,nauseating, revolting...vigilante group Sri Ram Sene’s Head Pramod Muthalik compares assassinated journalist Gauri Lankesh to a dog. Mr Prime Minister @narendramodi you did not condemn Gauri Lankesh’s murder are you now going to condone this too https://t.co/V3do2n5wIv
— Manish Tewari (@ManishTewari) June 18, 2018
Dalit leader and Gujarat MLA, Jignesh Mevani, termed Muthalik's comment as "obnoxious".
Lashing out at the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Mevani tweeted, "The remarks made by BJP' Pramod Muthalik are too obnoxious to talk about. Comparing Gauri Lankesh with a dog shows the cultural filth they have accumulated all these years. Since Prime minister is following the ones who abuse dead Gauri on twitter we don't have any hopes on him"
The remarks made by BJP' Pramod Muthalik are too obnoxious to talk about. Comparing Gauri Lankesh with a dog shows the cultural filth they have accumulated all these years. Since Prime minister is following the ones who abuse dead Gauri on twitter we don't have any hopes on him
— Jignesh Mevani (@jigneshmevani80) June 18, 2018
Facing criticisms, Muthalik tried to explain that he did not mean to equate Lankesh with a dog.
Investigators are reportedly looking into the right wing outfit's link to the Lankesh murder case.
A special investigation team has arrested the sixth person in connection with the case.
Lankesh, a popular journalist who took stands against Right-wing ideology, was shot three times by some unknown assailants outside her residence last year.
Lankesh, 55, was the editor of a Kannada weekly Lankesh Patrikewas.
Gauri Lankesh's murder had sparked country-wide protests.
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