New Delhi/Dehradun, October 14 (TNA) The appointment of former BJP national general secretary Dushyant Kumar Gautam as the new Governor of Sikkim has triggered a political controversy, with the Congress linking the decision to the unresolved “VIP angle” in the 2022 murder of Uttarakhand resort receptionist Ankita Bhandari.
Gautam was appointed Governor of Sikkim on Monday as part of a reshuffle of state governors. He has previously served as the BJP’s national general secretary and headed the party’s Scheduled Caste Morcha.
The Uttarakhand Congress staged a silent protest at Gandhi Park in Dehradun against his appointment. State Congress president Ganesh Godiyal alleged that the decision was an attempt to provide constitutional protection to Gautam and prevent action against him.
The party has demanded that the appointment be reconsidered and that the alleged “VIP” linked to Ankita Bhandari’s killing be identified. Congress leaders said the Central Bureau of Investigation’s inquiry into the alleged VIP angle had not resolved the questions raised by Ankita’s family.
Rahul Gandhi also joined Ankita Bhandari’s parents at a protest near India Gate in New Delhi on Wednesday. The family has continued to demand answers over the circumstances surrounding the 19-year-old receptionist’s death and the alleged involvement of an influential person.
Ankita Bhandari was killed in September 2022 after she went missing from the Vanantara resort in Uttarakhand. Her body was later recovered from a canal, and the case led to the conviction of three accused persons. However, allegations regarding a separate “VIP” connection have continued to fuel public and political debate.
Gautam has rejected the allegations against him as politically motivated. He has filed a defamation case against television actor and former BJP leader Urmila Sanawar, who had named him in connection with the case, and described the accusation as a political vendetta.
The BJP has defended the appointment and accused the Congress of politicising the issue. Uttarakhand BJP leaders have questioned the Opposition’s focus on Gautam while referring to other allegations involving Congress leaders.
The allegations against Gautam have not been established in court. The controversy is likely to continue as Ankita Bhandari’s family and Opposition parties seek further investigation, while the new Governor prepares to assume office in Sikkim.