LUCKNOW: People from all walks of life on Wedensday gathered at
Gandhi Pratima in Hazratganj to protest against the murder of famous writer, journalist and social activist
Gauri Lankesh. Lankesh was murdered at her home in Bengaluru earlier on Tuesday.
Holding placards and voicing their angst, the demonstrators unitedly said that the Constitution of India gives them the freedom of speech and expression which forms the foundation of democracy.
They also said that the same Constitution gives people the right to protest against unjust policies of the government, to portray disagreements, to write and demonstrate angst on roads.
"Over these recent years this right has been brutally suppressed by the government and its satellite groups. Dabholkar, Pansare, Kalburgi and now Gauri Lankesh's murder reiterates the dismal situation. The people who cannot be suppressed, bought, intimidated are being threatened and killed," said
Sadaf Jafar, an activist who propelled the Lucknow chapter of 'I am Gauri Lankesh' on social media to bring together people in protest for the day.
"We demonstrate to show our power to those who are blinded by power, those who have forgotten that the more they try to stifle our voices the higher they shall rise. People will express themselves through write-ups, blogs, poetry, theater, music, dance, films and so on. The only way to stop the protests and criticism is better performance on their part," said
Deepak Kabir, another protester and activist.
Joined in by journalists, writers, theater personalities, teachers, social activists, students, the demonstrators resolved to keep the struggle going till the murderers of Gauri Lankesh are caught and punished.