New Delhi: In a dramatic turn of events, Ankita Bhandari’s parents – Virendra Singh Bhandari and Soni Devi – who were sitting on a silent dharna near India Gate against the appointment of Dushyant Kumar Gautam as Sikkim Governor, were forcibly lifted and removed by Delhi Police at 4 AM.
Witnesses said the elderly couple, who had been sitting since yesterday morning along with activist Yogita Bhayana, were in tears when police personnel picked them up at 4.00 AM. Ankita’s mother Soni Devi was crying inconsolably and pleading for justice for her daughter while being taken away. However,they were released later on at5.00 AM.
Earlier on Wednesday the police had tried to remove them and told them they cannot sit with posters and banners at India Gate. The parents had handed over their posters to the police but continued their silent sit-in, refusing to leave.
The parents had come to Delhi demanding that President Droupadi Murmu withhold the appointment of Dushyant Gautam till the CBI probe into the VIP angle is complete.
The detention comes just hours after Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi and AICC General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi met the parents at India Gate, hugged Ankita’s mother and assured full support.
The family alleges that their 19-year-old daughter was murdered in September 2022 after she refused to provide “special services” to a VIP at Vanantara Resort. They allege Dushyant Gautam is the VIP named in viral audio clips. Gautam has denied the allegations and called them defamatory.
On Tuesday, Uttarakhand Congress chief Ganesh Godiyal had also held a one-hour silent fast at Gandhi Park in Dehradun against the same appointment, calling it a blow to the sentiments of Uttarakhand.
Visuals of the old parents being dragged away in tears from India Gate – the symbol of national pride – have now gone viral, sparking fresh outrage.
Meanwhile Congress leader Ganesh Godiyal, while addressing a press conference in Dehradun, called upon the women of Uttarakhand to come forward and lead the fight for justice for Ankita Bhandari.
Godiyal said that before her death, Ankita had reportedly spoken about being pressured to provide special services to a VIP and had expressed fears for her life. He said several serious questions in the case remained unanswered even today, and the controversy had resurfaced after a former BJP MLA allegedly named the VIP.
He said the appointment of the person in question as the Governor of Sikkim, amid the allegations, was an insult to Uttarakhand’s pride and public sentiments.
“Prime Minister Narendra Modi must answer why decisive action has not been taken to ensure justice for Ankita,” Godiyal said.
Recalling the courage and legacy of Gaura Devi and the legendary Uttarakhand freedom fighter and warrior Teelu Rauteli, Godiyal appealed to the women of Devbhoomi to come forward and join the struggle for justice.
“Our demand is clear: Ankita must get justice, the guilty must be punished, and no accused person should enjoy protection by virtue of holding public office. Action must be taken strictly in accordance with the law,” he said.
