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“Gauri’s voice hasn’t been silenced, it has become louder,” said actor Prakash Raj, who was speaking at an event in Bengaluru to mark slain journalist Gauri Lankesh’s 56th birth anniversary on Monday.
Elaborating on why her voice will grow louder, Prakash, a long-time friend of Gauri Lankesh said:
The actor observed that like the death of Rohith Vemula, a Dalit scholar from University of Hyderabad or the assault of Dalits by upper caste cow vigilantes in Una, Gujarat, Gauri’s killing has created new voices to fight the forces that killed her.
Stating that he is still haunted by his friend’s death, Prakash said he wished to seek Gauri’s pardon for not raising his voice until now. He also admitted that he was inspired to raise his voice due to his friend's death.
While noting that fascist forces in the world have not lasted long, Prakash Raj said, “They may be here today. But they will go in five years.” He ended his speech by asking those present to not only speak up but also take to the streets in protest.
Gauri Lankesh, an activist cum journalist, was shot dead at point blank range outside her Bengaluru residence on 5 September 2017.
Following her death, Prakash Raj has become a vocal critic of Hindutva politics, taking to Twitter to lash out at the BJP-led Centre including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.
Besides Prakash Raj, Vadgam MLA Jignesh Mewani, JNU student leaders Kanhaiya Kumar, Shehla Rashid and Umar Khalid, who Gauri referred to as ‘her children’, Irom Sharmila are participating in the remembrance event ‘Gauri Day’.
(This story was originally published on The Newsminute and has been republished with permission.)
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