New Delhi, October 15 (UNI) Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Thursday wrote to President Droupadi Murmu, urging her to reconsider the appointment of Dushyant Gautam as the Governor of Sikkim in connection with the Ankita Bhandari murder case.
In his letter, Gandhi appealed to the President "not to allow Gautam to assume office until the investigation into the case is completed. Gandhi stated that 19-year-old Ankita Bhandari was allegedly murdered after refusing to compromise her dignity for a VIP.
He said that even after four years, delays in the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe had left a crucial question unanswered: Who was the VIP allegedly involved in the case?
According to Gandhi, several people, including Ankita's family, believe that a senior functionary from the BJP is allegedly linked to the case. He said he was shocked by Gautam's appointment as Sikkim Governor in view of these concerns. Gandhi also claimed in his letter that criminal proceedings against the said functionary could not be initiated while he remained in the gubernatorial office. Targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Gandhi alleged that the decision to appoint Gautam demonstrated a lack of concern for women's safety.
He urged President Murmu to reconsider the appointment and help preserve Ankita's parents' hope of securing justice for their daughter. Meanwhile, Ankita Bhandari's parents staged a sit-in protest at India Gate, demanding justice for their daughter. On Wednesday evening, Rahul Gandhi, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and several other party leaders and workers joined the protest in support of the family's demand for justice.
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