Sri Ram Sene chief’s ‘dog dies’ remark on Lankesh triggers stir

BENGALURU:Is These Leftleaning intellectuals ask PM Narendra Modi to speak on Gauri Lankesh’s death. Do you expect Narendra Modi to respond every time a dog dies in Karnataka? PRAMOD MUTHALIK,

Sri Ram Sene president

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expected to respond each time a “dog dies in Karnataka”, Sri Ram Sene chief Pramod Muthalik asked in a reference to the murder of journalist Gauri Lankesh, drawing a furious reaction from the Congress today.

Muthalik made the comment during an interaction with the public on Sunday.

“Everyone is saying that Hindu groups conspired to kill Gauri Lankesh, but two murders in Maharashtra and two in Karnataka took place during Congress’ rule,” Muthalik said, referring to the killings of rationalist Narendra Dabholkar, Left leader Govind Pansare, Kannada writer MM Kalburagi and Lankesh.

“No one questioned the Congress government’s failure... instead these Left-leaning intellectuals ask Prime Minister Narendra Modi to speak on Gauri Lankesh’s death,” he said.

“Do you expect Modi to respond every time a dog dies in Karnataka?” he asked.

The remark comparing the slain journalist to a dog was disgusting, said Congress spokesperson Manish Tewari and asked if Modi was going to condone these remarks.

“Disgusting, nauseating, revolting... vigilante group Sri Ram Sene’s Head Pramod Muthalik compares assassinated journalist Gauri Lankesh to a dog.

“Mr Prime Minister @narendramodi you did not condemn Gauri Lankesh’s murder are you now going to condone this too,” Tiwari said on Twitter.

Muthalik on Monday said he only wanted to know if the PM should react to each and every death. The Sri Ram Sene came under the police scanner after the Special Investigation Team probing the murder summoned Rakesh Math, the Vijayapura district chief of the fringe right-wing outfit, for questioning.