Congress leaders meet protesting parents of Ankita Bhandari at India Gate

Protests at India Gate

Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra met the parents of the late Ankita Bhandari during a sit-in protest near India Gate in New Delhi. The parents, Virendra Singh Bhandari and Soni Devi, were demanding that the appointment of Dushyant Kumar Gautam as the Governor of Sikkim be put on hold. According to the Indian Express, Delhi Police detained the parents hours after the protest began, along with several Congress leaders including Pawan Khera, Supriya Shrinate, and Uday Bhanu Chib, before releasing them early Thursday morning.

The Murder Case

Ankita Bhandari worked as a receptionist at the Vanantra Resort in Uttarakhand and was killed after refusing to provide special services to a VIP visitor. Resort owner Pulkit Arya, son of a BJP leader, and two aides were convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment by a sessions court in August 2025. The family alleges that Mr. Gautam, a former Rajya Sabha MP, was the VIP involved in the case, a claim he has denied while filing a defamation suit in the Delhi High Court.

Demands and Official Response

The parents urged President Droupadi Murmu to suspend the gubernatorial appointment until the Central Bureau of Investigation probe into the alleged VIP connection finishes. Rahul Gandhi criticized the ruling party on social media for rewarding those connected to the case with constitutional positions. Meanwhile, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami stated that his government ensured swift arrests, a special investigation team probe, and life imprisonment for the convicts, alongside recommending a CBI inquiry.

Context

Protests at India Gate frequently draw national political attention due to the site's proximity to central government offices in New Delhi. High-profile criminal cases involving allegations against political figures often spark prolonged public demonstrations and legal battles in India.