Pained by PM Modi’s Silence on Gauri Lankesh’s Murder, Prakash Raj Threatens to Return National Awards

"I am an actor and can easily make out when our Prime Minister is acting. PM should respect my profession as for me it takes second to differentiate between acting and truth," said Raj.

New Delhi, October 2: Unhappy with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s silence over the murder of senior journalist Gauri Lankesh, actor Prakash Raj has threatened to return his national awards. The actor has also expressed dissatisfaction with few sections rejoicing the murder of Lankesh who was known for her anti right-wing stand.

“Murderers of Gauri might not be nabbed but there are few who are celebrating her murder on social media and we know what ideology such people carry. Prime Minister on social media follows some of the people happy with the death of the owner of ‘Lankesh Patrike’ and this is what worries me. In which direction is our nation heading?” told the Singham actor to Deccan Chronicle.

Speaking at the meet of Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) in the capital of Karnataka, the 52-year-old actor stated:” Keep the awards. I do not want it and do not tell me “acche din” (good days) will come.”

Criticising PM Modi in a harsh manner, Raj- a close friend of Gauri was quoted by News Minute, saying,  “I am an actor and can easily make out when our Prime Minister is acting. PM should respect my profession as for me it takes second to differentiate between acting and truth”.

After the murder of Gauri, Raj had told Times of India that he knew Gauri for 30 years and in a way we are all children of P Lankesh (the founder of Lankesh Patrike) and his ideology. ” Never expected such a thing to happen. P Lankesh voiced his opinion strongly, no one in this matter could match him,” he had further added.

On September 5, Gauri was shot by to death by unknown assailants outside her home in Bengaluru.