New Delhi: Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Thursday urged President Droupadi Murmu to urge union government to reconsider Dushyant Gautam’s appointment as Sikkim Governor till the CBI concludes the in…

New Delhi: Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Thursday urged President Droupadi Murmu to urge union government to reconsider Dushyant Gautam’s appointment as Sikkim Governor till the CBI concludes the investigations into the murder of Ankita Bhandari, with her family alleging that the BJP leader is linked to the crime.Pointing out that Governors are appointed by the President on the advice of the Council of Ministers, he claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has “proved his utter disregard for women’s safety” by advising Gautam’s appointment as Governor.Ankita Bhandari case: Why her parents are protesting appointment of Dushyant Gautam as Sikkim governor – All about 2022 Uttarakhand murderRahul said in a letter to Murmu that no criminal proceedings can be initiated or continued against a Governor in office, keeping Gautam “out of reach” of the CBI and an “inquiry that can never result in prosecution is an inquiry in name only”. The letter came as Ankita’s parents were detained on Thursday early morning from India Gate where they were on an overnight dharna. राष्ट्रपति महोदया,19 साल की अंकिता भंडारी ने एक VIP के लिए अपनी गरिमा से समझौता करने से इनकार किया, जिसके कारण उसकी हत्या कर दी गई। चार साल बाद भी CBI की धीमी जांच के चलते यह सवाल बना हुआ है कि वो VIP कौन था।अंकिता के परिवार समेत कई लोग मानते हैं कि दुष्यंत गौतम इस मामले से… pic.twitter.com/Rk52Pa4iRz— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) October 15, 2026

While the parents were detained around 4am along with Congress leaders Pawan Khera, Supriya Shrinate, S Jothimani and Imran Pratapgarhi, they were released an hour later following which the victim’s father Veerendra Singh Bhandari issued a 24-hour ultimatum to the Centre to cancel Gautam’s appointment.Ankita Bhandari’s parents detained at 4 am over protest against Gautam’s appointment as Sikkim governor; Congress calls it an act of ‘cowardice’Three persons, including BJP leader Vinod Arya’s son Pulkit and resort manager Saurabh Bhaskar and assistant manager Ankit Gupta, were convicted in the September 2022 murder. Ankita, the 19-year-old receptionist of a resort owned by Pulkit, was murdered after she refused to provide “special services” to a VIP, which the family claimed was Gautam.He said Pulkit had pressed her to provide “special services to VIP guests” but she refused, leading to her murder by three persons, who were sentenced to life. “One question has gone unanswered for four years: who were the VIPs?” he said adding, a CBI probe was ordered following protests across Uttarakhand and it is underway now.’Height of cowardice, insensitivity’: Congress slams detention of Ankita Bhandari’s parentsInsisting that he was “therefore shocked to learn” of Gautam’s appointment at a time the CBI probe to determine who the VIPs were “ongoing but proceeding very slowly”, he said,  “a Governor must command the trust of the people of his state. No one under this shadow can.”Recalling that the Governor is the Constitutional head of the state government like the President is for the union government, he said, “while he (Gautam) holds office, no criminal proceedings can be instituted or continued against him.”Rahul reminded the President that she has the “right to warn” the government and Article 74(1) gives her the power to ask for advice to be reconsidered. “That is why I write to you as a last resort,” he said.”Ankita refused the repellent demand made of her and paid with her life. Her parents, who are still fighting for justice, are now protesting this appointment and being detained by police. Please act – provide solace to Ankita’s grieving parents and protect the high post of Governor,” he added.Earlier, Rahul Gandhi, who along with his sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra visited the protest site on Wednesday night, posted on ‘X’, “4 AM in the morning. While the world was asleep, Ankita Bhandari’s parents were taken into custody. Their crime? They were sitting quietly at India Gate — with heavy shoulders, without any commotion, and simply demanding that Dushyant Gautam should not be made the Governor of Sikkim until the CBI investigation is complete.”सुबह के 4 बजे। जब दुनिया सो रही थी, तब अंकिता भंडारी के माता-पिता को हिरासत में ले लिया गया।उनका गुनाह? वे इंडिया गेट पर चुपचाप बैठे थे – बोझिल कंधों के साथ, बिना किसी हंगामे के और सिर्फ़ इतना माँग रहे थे कि CBI जाँच पूरी होने तक दुष्यंत गौतम को सिक्किम का राज्यपाल न बनाया जाए।… pic.twitter.com/XkqNGsZ7F3— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) October 15, 2026

“Even before the results of that investigation came in, the appointment was rushed, and the parents asking questions were picked up in the dead of night. This is the hallmark of this government: silence the voices of the victims, remove those who ask questions. But the fight for justice will neither be silenced nor stopped. The Congress stands with Ankita Bhandari’s family, and will continue to stand—until they get justice,” he said.Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge claimed the detention was the “pinnacle of the Modi government’s cowardice and insensitivity”. He said the parents of Ankita were taken into custody while a “BJP ‘VIP’ is rewarded” with the Governor’s post.मोदी सरकार की कायरता और संवेदनहीनता की पराकाष्ठा!न्याय की गुहार माँगने वाले अंकिता भंडारी के माता-पिता को हिरासत, और भाजपाई ‘VIP’ को Governor-ship! सत्ता का यह दमन सरकार की ताक़त नहीं, बल्कि सवालों से भागने का प्रमाण है।एक बेटी को खो चुके माता-पिता के साथ ऐसा व्यवहार अत्यंत… https://t.co/5v2PErIIhv— Mallikarjun Kharge (@kharge) October 15, 2026

“This oppression by those in power is not a sign of the government’s strength, but rather proof of its attempt to flee from questions. Such treatment of parents who have already lost their daughter is utterly shameful and reprehensible. The Congress Party will continue to fight to ensure justice for daughter Ankita,” he posted on ‘X’.Yogita Bhayana, the activist with whom the parents sat on protest, said, “these people have come all the way from the mountains because such a serious case, which should have resulted in a jail sentence, has instead been rewarded with a Governor’s post. We are giving the government 24 hours to revoke this appointment. Otherwise, the agitation will continue.”

Source: Deccan Herald