KC Venugopal Urges President to Revoke Sikkim Governor's Appointment
Congress leader KC Venugopal urges President Murmu to revoke Dushyant Gautam's governorship amid protests over the Ankita Bhandari murder case.
In a major political escalation regarding the Ankita Bhandari murder case, Congress General Secretary (Organisation) KC Venugopal has called upon President Droupadi Murmu to intervene and revoke the appointment of BJP leader Dushyant Kumar Gautam as the Governor of Sikkim.
Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Venugopal accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of shielding individuals allegedly involved in the 2022 killing of the 19-year-old receptionist. He emphasized that the Congress party and the INDIA bloc stand in complete solidarity with the victim's family, who have been fighting for justice in Uttarakhand for four years.
Demands for Presidential Intervention
The controversy erupted following the appointment of Dushyant Kumar Gautam, which the Congress alleges is a move to grant immunity to those linked to the crime. Venugopal stated that the demand for justice is clear and that the governorship must be withdrawn.
"The demand is clear: the governorship must be revoked. The President should intervene and withdraw the appointment," Venugopal asserted, adding that the BJP is actively protecting the accused.
High-Profile Support at India Gate
The protest reached a fever pitch in New Delhi, where the victim's parents staged a sit-in at India Gate. The demonstration saw significant support from top Congress leadership:
- Rahul Gandhi: The Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha joined the sit-in protest to support the grieving parents.
- Priyanka Gandhi Vadra: The Congress MP met with the family to express solidarity and listen to their demands.
- The INDIA Bloc: Various members of the alliance have voiced their support for the family's pursuit of a thorough investigation.
The family is specifically seeking a halt to Gautam's appointment until the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) completes its probe into an alleged "VIP angle" connected to the murder.
"Rewarding the Accused," Says Congress
Congress leader Supriya Shrinate, who was present at the protest, criticized the government for what she described as a reward for those under suspicion. She questioned the systemic failure to protect women, asking, "Why aren't daughters protected or safeguarded?"
Shrinate alleged that instead of delivering justice after a four-year battle, the appointment serves as a form of immunity. Similarly, Revolutionary Socialist Party MP NK Premachandran suggested that the family was forced onto the streets because they suspect culprits are being elevated to constitutional positions.
The case dates back to September 2022, when Ankita Bhandari, a receptionist at a resort near Rishikesh, Uttarakhand, was murdered. The incident has resurfaced in the national spotlight as the family demands a deeper investigation into high-profile connections to the crime.