Dangerous Glorification of Gauri Lankesh’s Alleged Killers

Pro-Hindutva extremists groups in Karnataka have once again demonstrated a disturbing pattern of glorifying individuals involved in heinous crimes. This time, the far-right has chosen to felicitate Parashuram Waghmore and Manohar Yadave, two men accused of the cold-blooded murder of activist-journalist Gauri Lankesh. After spending six years behind bars, both men were granted bail by a Bengaluru sessions court on October 9, 2024, and their release was met not with quiet reflection, but with jubilant celebrations that revealed the deeper rot within segments of society.

Two individuals accused in the murder of journalist #GauriLankesh have been granted bail, sparking significant reactions upon their arrival in #Vijayapura, #Karnataka.

Upon their return, they were greeted with a rousing welcome by various #Hindutva organizations, who expressed… pic.twitter.com/1PznLHwHQ8

— Hate Detector 🔍 (@HateDetectors) October 12, 2024

In a chilling display of triumphalism, both men were garlanded, draped in orange shawls, and hailed as heroes upon their return to Vijayapura. The celebration, as documented by India Today, was not an isolated incident. It follows a familiar pattern where individuals accused of gruesome violence, especially those whose actions align with a particular ideological bent, are transformed into icons of a skewed form of nationalism. The two accused, after their ceremonial reception, garlanded a statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji and visited a local temple—a symbolic and strategic move to anchor their actions in a narrative of religious duty.

This grotesque celebration echoes a long-standing practice of far-right groups in India: the glorification of vigilante violence. The message is clear—those who engage in acts of hatred, violence, or murder under the banner of Hindutva are to be valorised. Waghmore, a known activist of Sri Ram Sene, a right-wing group notorious for stoking communal tensions in Karnataka, is just the latest in a line of individuals whose crimes are recast as acts of heroism. The timing of this felicitation, coinciding with the Hindu festival of Vijayadasami, added an even more sinister layer of religious and cultural justification to the spectacle.

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. Right wing is destroying Hinduism piece by piece. pic.twitter.com/xgLXcAJe1z

— Congress Kerala (@INCKerala) October 14, 2024

The Congress has strongly condemned the actions of Hindutva groups in Karnataka, who recently celebrated the release of two men accused of the brutal murder of journalist and Hindutva critic, Gauri Lankesh. In a scathing post on X (formerly Twitter), the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) shared a video showing the accused, Parashuram Waghmore and Manohar Edave, being garlanded and draped in saffron clothes upon their return to Vijaypura.

The KPCC lashed out at the disturbing symbolism of saffron—traditionally a colour representing courage and sacrifice—being co-opted to honour individuals accused of such a cowardly act. “Gauri Lankesh’s murderers, cowards who shot a lady and ran away, are garlanded with saffron clothes,” the post stated, sharply criticising the right-wing’s perversion of Hindu values.

By linking the incident to a broader issue, the Congress underscored the damage that extremist groups are doing to Hinduism itself, a religion that most relate to non-violence and tolerance. “Right wing is destroying Hinduism piece by piece,” the KPCC’s post noted, calling out the hypocrisy of those who glorify violence while claiming to represent the faith’s highest ideals. The felicitation of accused criminals not only mocks the justice system but also distorts the cultural and spiritual heritage of Hinduism by equating its symbols with acts of violence and hatred.

Kavitha Lankesh, sister of Gauri Lankesh, also spoke out on the said incident, deeming it to be a vile and vicious attempt at creating a dangerous environment.

Gauri Lankesh Murder Case | "Even in Bilkis Bano's case, the rapists were given a rousing welcome. Gauri case was an organized crime where a lot of people were involved.."-Kavitha Lankesh, Sister of Gauri Lankesh#ReporterDiary #GauriLankesh (@anaghakesav) pic.twitter.com/ldkwUC8BhY

— IndiaToday (@IndiaToday) October 14, 2024

But this is not a one-off event. India has seen multiple instances where individuals accused of communal violence or crimes against minorities have been given similar receptions. Whether it was the 2018 garlanding of eight men convicted of lynching a Muslim man in Jharkhand or the celebration of those convicted in the 2002 Gujarat riots after their early release, there is a clear, unsettling trend. These actions feed into a dangerous narrative of impunity, where the perpetrators of violence are not just forgiven—they are celebrated, and their actions justified under the guise of religious nationalism.

The broader implications of such actions cannot be understated. By turning accused murderers into martyrs of a cause, these groups send a dangerous signal: violence committed in the name of ideology is acceptable, even laudable. It emboldens more violence, deepens communal divides, and erodes the principles of justice and accountability. The case of Gauri Lankesh – an outspoken critic of right-wing politics, shot dead outside her home in 2017—remains a stark reminder of the price paid for dissent in today’s India.

As the trial in the Gauri Lankesh murder case drags on, and more accused individuals are released on bail, the question that looms large is this: when the state apparatus is manipulated to embolden those who commit violence under the guise of ideology, where does justice find a place?

Below is a brief overview of various instances, year-wise, where accused and convicted individuals in high-profile crimes were felicitated by far-right extremist organisations while they were accused or convicted of crimes:

2024: Gauri Shankar Murder Case Lawyers Felicitated (Karnataka)  

Event:   On July 1, 2024, BJP MLA Raja Singh felicitated the advocates defending the accused in the Gauri Shankar murder case at an event organised by HJS.

Organisers:   The accused’s lawyers, including P. Krishnamurthy, Umashankar Megundi, and others, were honoured, and Raja Singh also felicitated lawyers defending the accused in the Dabholkar murder case.

Significance: The celebration of legal defenders in such sensitive cases signals the normalisation of extremism and further erodes the justice process.

2024 – Gauri Lankesh murder accused felicitated (Karnataka)  

Event:   In July 2024, Parashuram Waghmore and Manohar Edave, accused in the murder of journalist Gauri Lankesh, were felicitated in Vijaypura, Karnataka, by Hindutva groups.

Organisers: Hindutva organisations, including Hindu Janajagruti Samiti (HJS), organised the event where the accused were garlanded in saffron robes.

Significance: Gauri Lankesh’s murder in 2017, allegedly due to her outspoken criticism of Hindutva ideology, became a focal point for debates on religious extremism. Felicitating the accused further exacerbates concerns about the growing glorification of violence.

2024 – Dabholkar murder accused felicitated (Goa)

Event: Vikram Bhave, a Sanatan Sanstha seeker acquitted in the murder of rationalist Dr. Narendra Dabholkar, along with defence lawyers, was felicitated on June 30, 2024, at an event organised by the Hindu Janajagruti Samiti (HJS) in Ponda, Goa.

Organisers: The HJS hosted the event as part of the Vaishvik Hindu Rashtra Mahotsav, attended by national and international delegates.

Significance: Dabholkar was a prominent rationalist and social activist, and his murder is linked to extremist religious elements. The felicitation of those involved undermines efforts for justice.

2022 – Bilkis Bano convicts felicitated after premature release (Gujarat)  

Event: Convicts in the Bilkis Bano case, where 11 men were sentenced to life imprisonment for gang-raping Bilkis Bano and murdering 14 of her relatives during the 2002 Gujarat riots, were felicitated soon after their premature release on August 15, 2022.

Organisers: The felicitation was reportedly organised by Arvind Sisodia, a member of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), in Godhra. Convicts were greeted with garlands and sweets at an event in the Deen Dayal Upadhyay Trust auditorium.

Significance:  Despite a Supreme Court conviction, the event sparked outrage as it symbolised the glorification of individuals guilty of heinous crimes, including gang-rape and murder during communal violence.

2020: Bulandshahr violence accused felicitated (Uttar Pradesh)  

Event: Shikhar Agarwal, the key accused in the 2018 Bulandshahr violence case where Inspector Subodh Kumar Singh was killed by a mob, was felicitated on July 14, 2020.

Organisers: He was allegedly felicitated by Bulandshahr BJP president Anil Sisodia and awarded responsibilities for overseeing welfare schemes in the district.

Significance: This sparked controversy, as the felicitation of someone accused of killing a police officer in a communal violence case was seen as an endorsement of lawlessness.

2019: Mob lynching accused in Bulandshahr felicitated (Uttar Pradesh)   

Event: After being granted bail, seven men accused of killing police officer Subodh Kumar Singh during a mob attack in Bulandshahr, Uttar Pradesh, were given a hero’s welcome. Supporters greeted them with garlands and chanted slogans.

Organiser: Bajrang Dal, VHP, and local right-wing groups in Bulandshahr, Uttar Pradesh.

Significance: The public celebration of men accused of killing a police officer in the name of cow protection is another instance of glorifying violence. This not only emboldens vigilante groups but also undermines law enforcement efforts to contain communal violence.

2018: Gujarat carnage – Keka Shastry felicitation (Gujarat)

Event: Felicitation of Keka Shastry, a VHP leader who admitted involvement in planning the 2002 Gujarat carnage.

Organiser: Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP)

Significance: Despite Shastry’s admission of his role in orchestrating violence that claimed over 2,000 lives, top BJP and Sangh Parivar leaders, including Narendra Modi and L.K. Advani, praised him at the event, showcasing the impunity and open acceptance of violence against minorities within these circles.

2018: Ajmer Dargah bomb blast convict Bhavesh Patel felicitation (Gujarat)

Event: Bhavesh Patel, convicted in the 2007 Ajmer Dargah bomb blast case, was welcomed with a grand celebration.

Organiser: BJP and Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP)

Significance: Patel was involved in a terror attack targeting the Ajmer Sharif Dargah, which killed three and injured 17. His public felicitation by BJP and VHP leaders, with people throwing rose petals on him, signified the glorification of violence against Muslims and the normalisation of terrorism in Hindutva supremacist circles.

2018: Union Minister Jayant Sinha felicitates lynching convicts (Jharkhand)  

Event: Union Minister Jayant Sinha garlanded eight men convicted in the lynching of coal trader Alimuddin Ansari after they were released on bail. The men were convicted of murdering Ansari in a case of cow vigilantism.

Organiser: Jayant Sinha, Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation, at his residence in Hazaribagh, Jharkhand.

Significance: Sinha’s public show of support for convicted lynching perpetrators triggered outrage, highlighting the tacit approval and political backing for communal violence in the name of cow protection. Despite widespread criticism, Sinha defended his actions as “honouring the law,” revealing how legal processes are used to justify extremist acts.

2018: Rallies in support of gang rape accused in Kathua Rape case (Jammu)

Event: Rallies were held in support of the accused in the brutal gang rape and murder of an 8-year-old girl in Kathua, Jammu and Kashmir. BJP leaders and members of the Hindu Ekta Manch publicly protested the arrest of the accused.

Organiser: Hindu Ekta Manch, with participation from local BJP leaders and ministers.

Significance: The public backing of the accused in such a heinous crime reflects how communal biases drive support for perpetrators of violence against minorities. The participation of BJP leaders in these rallies demonstrates the politicisation of communal violence and its integration into electoral strategies.

2013: Muzaffarnagar riots accused Sangeet Som and Suresh Rana felicitation (Uttar Pradesh)

Event: Felicitation of Sangeet Som and Suresh Rana, accused of inciting communal violence in the 2013 Muzaffarnagar riots.

Organiser: ‘Human Rights Cell’ of the Uttar Pradesh BJP

Significance: The Muzaffarnagar riots led to over 60 deaths and the displacement of more than 40,000 people, mostly Muslims. BJP’s public honouring of these accused individuals as heroes at the then Gujarat CM Narendra Modi rally symbolised the political backing for those who instigate communal violence.

2018: Giriraj Singh meets riot-accused Bajrang Dal and VHP members (Bihar)  

Event: Union Minister Giriraj Singh visited Bajrang Dal and VHP activists jailed for rioting during Ram Navami celebrations in 2017. Singh expressed grief over their arrests, claiming they were framed.

Organiser: Giriraj Singh, Union Minister, at Nawada jail, Bihar.

Significance: Singh’s defence of accused rioters reflects the pattern of political leaders supporting right-wing groups involved in communal violence. By blaming the Nitish Kumar government for “suppressing Hindus,” Singh’s actions serve to embolden Hindutva elements and promote a narrative that demonises minorities.

2014: Dhananjay Desai to be honoured with Hindutva Bravery Award (Maharashtra)   

Event: Hindutva groups announced plans to award Dhananjay Desai, the chief of Hindu Rashtra Sena (HRS), with the ‘Hindutva Shaurya Puraskar’ despite his arrest for the murder of Pune techie Mohsin Sheikh. 

Organiser: Akhil Bharateeya Krushi Gou-Seva Sangh, with support from local Hindutva organisations in Pune, Maharashtra.

Significance: The announcement of Desai’s award exemplifies how right-wing extremist leaders are venerated despite being accused of heinous crimes. The decision to honour Desai for his contributions to Hindutva, not his role in the murder, highlights the political backing of anti-Muslim violence and the normalisation of such acts.

Celebrating the unthinkable: The normalisation of extremism

In conclusion, the recent celebration of Gauri Lankesh’s murderers reflects a disturbing trend that transcends regional boundaries in India. The glorification of individuals accused of heinous crimes—especially those that align with extremist ideologies—reveals a deeper societal malaise where violence and hatred are increasingly normalised. This behaviour not only undermines the justice system but also fosters a culture of impunity that threatens the very foundations of democracy, free expression, and accountability across the country. As incidents like these continue to proliferate, it is imperative for civil society, political leaders, and the judiciary to unite in their resolve to confront and counteract the rise of extremism. Upholding the legacy of activists like Gauri Lankesh demands a collective commitment to justice, equality, and the protection of fundamental rights for all citizens, regardless of their beliefs or affiliations. Only through such efforts can we hope to dismantle the dangerous narratives that seek to legitimise violence and division within our society.