By Anwarulhaq Baig
NEW DELHI: In a shocking display of support for violence, fringe Hindu groups in Karnataka have celebrated the accused killers of journalist Gauri Lankesh, Parashuram Waghmore and Manohar Yadave, with garlands, sparking widespread condemnation from activists and civil society and highlighting a troubling pattern of glorifying accused and convicted individuals, including the recent welcome of Bilkis Bano rapists and the garlanding of Alimuddin Ansari lynching convicts by Union Minister Jayant Sinha in Jharkhand.
Following their release on bail by a Bengaluru sessions court on October 9 after six years behind bars, the two men were welcomed with garlands and shawls in Vijayapura.
Controversial Welcome Ceremony
Parashuram Waghmore and Manohar Yadave, key accused in the 2017 assassination of Gauri Lankesh, were granted bail by a Bengaluru sessions court on October 9, 2024, after spending six years in custody. Their return to their hometown of Vijayapura, Karnataka, was marked by a celebration that has since become the center of national attention and outrage.
Upon their arrival, Waghmore and Yadave were greeted with garlands and shawls to their hometown of Vijayapura, Karnataka by members of right-wing Hindu groups, most notably the Sri Rama Sene. The welcome ceremony, presided over by Sri Rama Sene leader Umesh Vandal, featured enthusiastic chants of “Bharat Mata Ki Jai”. The event, captured on video, quickly went viral on social media platforms, triggering widespread condemnation.
In a provocative display of support, the accused also paid homage to a statue of Shivaji at Shivaji Circle in Vijayapura, further signaling their backing from right-wing factions.
Background of the Gauri Lankesh Case
Gauri Lankesh, a prominent journalist known for her fearless criticism of Hindutva ideologies and right-wing extremism, was shot dead outside her home in Bengaluru on September 5, 2017. The brazen assassination had sent shockwaves through India’s media and activist communities, raising alarm about the safety of journalists and the state of free speech in the world’s largest democracy.
The Karnataka Police’s Special Investigation Team (SIT) had conducted an extensive investigation, ultimately arresting 17 individuals linked to the radical Hindutva group Sanatan Sanstha. The investigation revealed a complex conspiracy involving multiple states and a network of right-wing extremists. According to the SIT, Waghmore was identified as the shooter, while Ganesh Miskin was named as his accomplice who drove the motorcycle used in the crime. The case against Waghmore, Yadave, and their co-accused has faced numerous delays in the trial process, a factor that ultimately contributed to their release on bail.
The investigation also uncovered links to other high-profile murders of rationalists and scholars, suggesting a pattern of targeted violence against critics of right-wing ideologies.
Hovered, several of the accused in Gauri Lankesh’s murder case have been granted bail in recent months due to trial delays, while Sharad Kalaskar, one of those charged with Lankesh’s murder, is currently serving a sentence after being convicted of the murder of rationalist Narendra Dabholkar.
After their release, Waghmore and Yadave paid homage to the statue of Shivaji at Shivaji Circle in their town, further signalling their support from right-wing factions. Sriram Sene leader Neelkantha Kandagal, speaking at the welcome ceremony, claimed that innocent people had been unjustly convicted in Lankesh’s murder. This statement, however, overlooks the fact that bail does not equate to acquittal and that the legal proceedings against the accused are ongoing.
It’s worth noting that this is not an isolated incident of such celebrations in this case. Previously, former BJP MP Pratap Simha had visited and honoured another accused in the Lankesh murder case, highlighting a troubling pattern of political support for individuals implicated in violent crimes or targeted killings.
Years-Long Tradition of Hindutva Fringe Elements Celebrating Convicts of Crimes
There is a long-standing tradition among Hindutva fringe elements and groups to celebrate the release of individuals convicted or accused of communal crimes or target killings, including rapes and murders of activists and intellectuals.
Most notably, the 11 convicts in the Bilkis Bano gang rape case were welcomed with garlands at the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) office after their release from Godhra sub-jail on August 15, 2022. These men had been sentenced to life imprisonment for raping Bilkis Bano and murdering 14 of her relatives during the 2002 Gujarat riots. Their premature release was sanctioned under the Gujarat government’s remission policy.
Former Union minister and BJP MP Jayant Sinha also garlanded eight men convicted in the murder of coal trader Alimuddin Ansari, who were released on bail in July 2018. These men were found guilty of lynching Ansari in a case of alleged cow vigilantism.
On July 1, 2024, BJP MLA Raja Singh honored the lawyers defending the accused in the Gauri Shankar murder case at an event organized by the Hindu Janajagruti Samiti (HJS). Similar events were held for those involved in the murder of rationalist Dr. Narendra Dabholkar, with Vikram Bhave—a Sanatan Sanstha seeker acquitted in the case—being celebrated alongside his defense lawyers.
Shikhar Agarwal, a key accused in the 2018 Bulandshahr violence that resulted in police officer Subodh Kumar Singh’s death, received a hero’s welcome on July 14, 2020, organized by local BJP leaders and right-wing groups.
Keka Shastry, a VHP leader involved in planning the 2002 Gujarat riots, and Bhavesh Patel, convicted in the 2007 Ajmer Dargah bomb blast case, were also celebrated upon their releases.
In a shocking display of support, rallies were organized by the Hindu Ekta Manch in defense of the accused in the brutal gang rape and murder of an 8-year-old girl in Kathua, Jammu and Kashmir, with participation from local BJP leaders.
Outrage as Gauri Lankesh Murder Accused Celebrated by Hindutva Groups
Activists, leaders, intellectuals, and civil society members have expressed shock and anger over the garlanding and welcoming of the accused in journalist Gauri Lankesh’s murder case. This event has drawn parallels to similar celebrations by Hindutva groups, including the welcoming of the Bilkis Bano rapists and the accused in the Asifa rape case.
Gauri Lankesh’s sister, Kavitha Lankesh, reacted strongly: “Gauri, we will get justice. Hate will not prevail. Bullets will be defeated, and the might and pen of your words, your smile, your twinkle will prevail. As they were not acquitted but got just bail, it creates fear among civil society. This was an organized crime involving many people, and the Sangh Parivar is honoring the accused. What kind of mindset do they have? This is a threat to all social activists and intellectuals.”
Senior journalist Ziya Us Salam remarked, “The moral fiber of the Hindutva brigade seems to have gone missing. They garlanded men convicted of lynching Alimuddin in Jharkhand, then the convicted rapists of Bilkis in Gujarat, and now they garland the murder accused of Gauri Lankesh. Ponder over it.”
Journalist Ashok Upadhyay criticized the celebrations: “Gauri Lankesh’s murder accused received a grand welcome from pro-Hindu groups in Karnataka. Bilkis Bano’s rapists were greeted with garlands at the VHP office after their release. What kind of precedents are we setting as a society?”
Political editor Vinod Sharma noted the troubling implications: “They’re learning from us in India. Especially by the recent grand reception of alleged killers of Gauri Lankesh. You reap what you sow.”
Filmmaker Rakesh Sharma questioned the values being promoted: “#NewIndia you dreamed of and voted for? The nation you want your children to inherit? Where extremists get felicitated for gunning down an old, defenseless woman?”
TV journalist and author of Daddy’s Girl and I Am a Troll, criticized the garlanding: “These men murdered a defenseless woman journalist, Gauri Lankesh. Why are they being garlanded? Earlier, Modi minister Jayant Sinha garlanded lynchers. The BJP has ensured that rapist-murderer Ram Rahim gets parole after parole, and he just endorsed them in the Haryana elections. The rapists of Bilkis Bano were garlanded. Wow, just wow.”
Hate Watch Karnataka reported: “In Vijayapura, the accused arrested in the Gauri Lankesh assassination case were given bail and received a grand welcome, honored with garlands.”
Dipankar Bhattacharya of CPI(ML) criticized the trend: “It is customary for the Sangh brigade to defend rape and murder accused and felicitate them when they come out on bail. Here, two men accused of murdering Gauri Lankesh are being extended a warm welcome.”
Writer Sushma Sharma commented, “Gauri Lankesh’s killers were granted bail. See how Hindutva organizations are welcoming them. RSS has been banned for a long time if we see history.”
The Congress Kerala account on X condemned the celebrations, stating, “Gauri Lankesh’s murderers, cowards who shot a lady and ran away, are garlanded with saffron clothes. Saffron represents courage and sacrifice, not crime and cowardice. The right wing is destroying Hinduism piece by piece.”
Activist Teesta Setalvad expressed her determination for justice: “Gauri, we will get justice. Hate will not prevail. Bullets will be defeated, and the might and pen of your words, your smile, your twinkle will prevail.”
Dr. Veena Jain highlighted the broader implications: “Garlanding and welcoming murderers of Gauri Lankesh like heroes is appalling. If you still think BJP is not destroying the future of India, then you are either blind or living under a rock.”
The Muslim Spaces account condemned the celebrations: “After welcoming the rapists of Bilkis Bano, now the murderers of Gauri Lankesh are being welcomed! They received open saffron welcomes from Hindutva organizations!”
Md Hafizur Rahman noted the alarming situation: “The killers of Gauri Lankesh got bail. They were given an open saffron welcome by Hindutva organizations. Action should also be taken against those who welcomed them.”
Saba Khan remarked, “To garland the rapists and murderers is culture. The killers of Gauri Lankesh were garlanded after they were granted bail by the Karnataka High Court.”
Journalist and Congress social media leader Ria expressed her dismay: “What a shame that Gauri Lankesh’s murderers have been granted bail. This is a failure of the judiciary. Like the rapists, now murderers are garlanded too. This is the ideology of the RSS and BJP.”
The CPI(M) account criticized the normalization of violence: “While Gauri Lankesh’s family waits for justice, two men accused of her murder are felicitated after coming out on bail by right-wing groups in Karnataka. This shameful incident is not an anomaly; this is Hindutva’s true color.”
Tushar Gandhi, Gandhi’s grandson, responded: “The hate-filled Sanghis always play true to their genes. Once again, they felicitate and honor murderers—this time, Gauri Lankesh’s killers out on bail. It started with Bapu. The worshipers of murderers, the RSS.”
Activist Harmeet Kaur condemned the celebration: “Gauri Lankesh’s killers were granted bail and openly given a saffron welcome by Hindutva organizations. This is sheer disgust.”
Social activist Hansraj Meena expressed deep concern: “The release of Gauri Lankesh’s killers on bail is a grave concern, reflecting the dire state of injustice. The respect shown by Hindutva supporters not only mocks the legal system but also supports violence to silence dissenting voices.”
