Sringeri BJP MLA DN Jeevaraj has made provocative statements about senior journalist Gauri Lankesh’s murder, suggesting that she was killed for her statements against the right wing, reported TV9 Kannada.
Speaking at a bike rally on Wednesday, Jeevaraj – a former BJP whip in the Karnataka assembly – said this while trying to argue that the BJP provided better safety and security than the Congress.
In the video accessed by Public TV, Jeevaraj is heard saying, “When BJP workers were murdered, if this same Gauri Lankesh had condemned Siddaramaiah, would her murder have happened?”
“(Under the BJP government) was Kalburgi killed? Was Gauri Lankesh killed? Then, BJP had protected everyone,” the MLA added.
Reacting to the statements, Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah said, “What is the meaning of that? What is the inference we should draw if a statement like that is given? Doesn’t it seem like these people are behind it?”
Speaking to the media on Thursday, Gauri’s sister Kavitha Lankesh said that she believed her sister had been killed over ideological differences. Asked to elaborate, Gauri’s brother Indrajit replied on Kavitha’s behalf to say:
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)