Sanatan Sanstha seeks fair probe into Gauri murder case

Sanatan Sanstha, a right-wing Hindutva organisation, on Thursday objected to efforts to link it with journalist Gauri Lankesh’s murder.

Addressing a press conference on Thursday, the Goa-based Sanstha’s spokesperson Ramesh Shinde said they travelled from Maharashtra to clarify that they have no role in the murder.

“We strongly condemn the murder and want the SIT to conduct a free and fair investigation. We condemn the efforts to link Sanatan Sanstha to Gauri’s murder and seek the SIT not to work under any political pressure,” Hindu Janajagruti Samiti national spokesperson, Virendra Ichalkaranjikar, said.

“We didn’t even know Gauri though her tabloid had carried a small piece against the Sanstha. Her tabloid’s circulation was extremely limited. She had a prominent presence in many conferences and with naxals. We want to know who was funding her activities,” he questioned.

“We’ve written letters expressing our willingness to share any information we have relating to the murder. Efforts are being made to delay the trial in the twin murders, while a propaganda war has been launched against the Sanstha,” Shinde stated.

“The so-called intellectuals, rationalists, communists and naxal sympathisers should stop spreading false news and tarnishing the image of Hindu organisations and wait patiently till the assailants are arrested,” he added.