Modi and BJP out to silence voice of dissent : Rahul Gandhi on Lankesh murder

Accusing Modi and his party, the BJP, of trying to silence any voice of dissent, Gandhi said it is "very sad that a journalist against fanaticism was killed."

"People say that the Prime Minister  is quiet. The point is the entire ideology is to silence voices," the Congress vice-president  told reporters.

"Sometimes, under pressure, the Prime Minister  makes statements. But the entire ideology is this."

"The prime minister is a skilled Hindutva politician. Whatever he says has two meanings," Gandhi said, ading non-violence is the history of the nation and murder can not be justified.

Gandhi said he had spoken to Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and the General Secretary of the AICC on the issue. " The chief minister has said that those responsible would be caught and punished."

CPI(M) General Secretary Sitaram Yechuri and Congress leader Sashi Tharoor were among few politicians who reacted to the murder of Lankesh, who was gunned down by unidentified assailants at her Bengaluru home on Tuesday evening.

"The Voices they want to silence will only get louder," Yechuri tweeted.

Tharoor's twitter page said : Saddened by the murder of #GauriLankesh. India wasn't supposed to be a country where journalists are silenced by bullets. Her voice rings on."

In another tweet Tharoor claimed that  Lankesh was killed for peaking things "some people did not like to hear."

JNU student leader Kanhaiya Kumar said Gauri Lankesh was a "fearless" fighter against hate. "Gauri Lankesh taught me to speak truth to power, She was fearless in her fight against hate. We resolve to carry on her struggle."

Information and Broadcasting Minister Smriti Irani condemned the killing o and hoped that there would be a speedy investigation and justice delivered.

"Condemn killing of senior journalist Gauri Lankesh. Hope speedy investigation is conducted and justice delivered. Condolences to the family," the minister said on Twitter.

Meanwhile, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said a SIT headed by a  IG-level officer will investigate the journalists's murder.

"We'll set up an SIT headed by an IG-level officer. The investigating officer will be an SP," said the chief minister.

"We will find her killers. The police has set up roadblocks at various places. Checkpoints around Bengaluru are being monitored," Siddaramaiah said.

"We have some intel (on this case)...There are four lines of inquiry being pursued by the police," he further said.

Talking about how the crime took place, Siddaramaiah said, "Someone jumped over the compound wall and shot her at close range...She (Lankesh) walked a few steps and collapsed."

"We will coordinate with the CBI and Maharashtra police for the probe," he further said.

Meanwhile, a protest meeting was held at the Naik Bhavan in Bengaluru and a demonstration was organised by the members of the Press Club of India in Delhi.

in Mumbai, various media organisations led by the Mumbai Press Club and Bombay Union of Journalists  have condemned the killing of  Lankesh and sought a speedy probe in the case.

A candlelight vigil will be held at the press club in Mumbai on Wednesday evening.

A candle light vigil will be organised also by Kolkata Press Club in the evening while protest programmes will be held in various other cities, including Chennai, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Pune and Mangalore.