Jignesh Mevani to Campaign Against BJP in Karnataka

Gujarat MLA and Dalit leader, Jignesh Mevani said he will campaign against the BJP in poll bound Karnataka. He was addressing a gathering in Bengaluru’s Town Hall on the occasion of journalist and activist Gauri Lankesh’s birth anniversary. He said that he will spend three weeks in the state to mobilise votes against the BJP.

Former JNU student union president, Kanhaiya Kumar, who was present at the event, also extended his support to Mevani’s Karnataka campaign.

The true way to preserve Gauri’s legacy is to prevent BJP from coming to power in Karnataka. We should forgo the notion of ideological purity. It will only help BJP come to power. I don’t want to be ideologically pure and politically stuck. I can compromise ideologically to keep the BJP out of power.

Jignesh Mevani

Talking about his strategy in the state, he said that he will appeal to the 20% of Dalits in the state.

“We will be here to tell the 20% of Dalits in Karnataka that not even 20 votes should go to BJP,” he added.

A strategy similar to that adopted by Modi against Manmohan Singh in 2014, Mevani said that he would deliver a parallel address to the nation to counter Modi.

Let Modi address the nation on 15 August from Red Fort and we will talk our mind on a Facebook live.

Jignesh Mevani

“When Gauri Was Killed I Was Born,” Says Prakash Raj

Speaking earlier at the function, actor Prakash Raj said that whoever silenced the voice of Gauri never understood that society can’t bury a person who lived for the people. Certain deaths always lead to new births, said actor Prakash Raj. He said this during ‘Gauri Day’ in Bengaluru, on Monday afternoon.

When Vemula died, a Kanhaiya and a Shehla Rasheed were born. When Dalits were killed, Jignesh Mewani was born. When Gauri was killed, I was born.

Prakash Raj

Prakash Raj said that he feels guilty for leaving Gauri alone when she was alive.

“All of us are guilty of leaving Gauri alone. All my remaining life, I will keep on apologising to Gauri by speaking out and standing with the people like her,” he said.

Need to Save The Secularism Gauri Was Fighting For: Kavita Lankesh

Kavita Lankesh, Gauri’s younger sister, said that her death was a wake-up call for many.

Until her death, I thought ignorance was bliss. But since she has left, I have realised I am a fool. We can’t afford to be unaware. We need to save the secularism Gauri was fighting for.

Kavita Lankesh

“When she used to call me to attend any protest, I used to evade. Now recently, I got arrested for attending a protest in her name. I may not know how to raise a slogan, but I will stand in solidarity with everyone, everything that Gauri stood for,” she said.