New Delhi: Voices are rising from within the BJP in Uttarakhand demanding strict action in the Ankita Bhandari murder case as new allegations sparked a political controversy in the state.
Days after two fresh FIRs were filed in Uttarakhand after audio and video clips surfaced alleging BJP national general secretary and state in-charge Dushyant Gautam’s link to the 2022 Ankita Bhandari murder case, a senior party leader and former cabinet minister Vijaya Barthwal has now asked for an “impartial investigation by the CBI, so that there is no possibility of any kind of political pressure or concealment”.
The former cabinet minister appealed to the Uttarakhand government to conduct a CBI investigation to ensure “all the facts can come out impartially”. She wrote: “The public should be assured that no voice of justice and truth will be suppressed. We cannot accept any compromises when it comes to the safety of our daughters. This is not just a case, but a question of our social responsibilities and moral values.”
Speaking to ThePrint, Barthwal said the issue was tarnishing the image of the party and which is why a CBI probe was necessary. Barthwal pointed out that a recent viral video has brought the issue back into the spotlight, “sparking political and social debate”.
“This horrific crime occurred in the sacred land of Mahadev, where the safety and respect of our daughters should be paramount. Ankita Bhandari, a young girl, faced extreme pressure in the line of duty and lost her life because of her dedication—this truth shakes us all. Three accused in this case have already been sentenced to life imprisonment,” she said.
Bhandari, 19, was working as a receptionist at a Rishikesh resort at the time of her death. Pulkit Arya, the resort’s owner and son of expelled BJP leader Vinod Arya, is serving a life term for her murder. During the trial, Ankita’s friends and colleagues told the court she was being pressured to provide “extra services” to VIPs and had refused to do so.
Though, Barthwal said, the BJP government and the Uttarakhand administration have taken action to punish the perpetrators, “justice (alone) is not enough; it is also important to see that justice is done; and if there are questions in this case, an impartial investigation should be conducted to answer those questions”.
“That is why I strongly demand an impartial investigation by the CBI, so that there is no possibility of any kind of political pressure or concealment. We may belong to any political party, but protecting the dignity, honour, and identity of our daughters is our greatest responsibility. If our daughters are not safe on this sacred land of Pahar Mahadev, then what is the point of managing this state?”
Barthwal is not the only one in the BJP to speak up on the issue. Former chief minister and Lok Sabha MP Trivendra Singh Rawat has also stressed that no one should go unpunished if the allegations are true. Terming it a serious matter, Rawat, while speaking to the media last week said the issue concerns women who make up to 50 percent of society.
“This is a very serious issue. There is a need to go into greater detail. The matter is in the court and hence it is not possible to comment on the matter but it is a very serious matter,” he said.
Apart from him, senior BJP leader and former chairman of Sri Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee in Uttarakhand Ajendra Ajay has also demanded a CBI probe in the matter and demanded that BJP leaders who have been accused should voluntarily resign from their post. “I firmly believe that the Ankita Bhandari case is certainly a serious matter. To ensure that the public remains free of any doubts or apprehensions, any legal action or CBI investigation required should be taken,” he wrote on social media site Facebook.
“I also suggest that any leaders implicated in this case should resign from their positions on moral grounds, in the interest of the party and to maintain public trust. They should declare themselves that they will prove their innocence and only then accept any position in the party,” he added.
The two FIRs registered recently—in Dehradun and Haridwar—booked Suresh Rathore, an MLA from Jwalapur constituency in Haridwar and Saharanpur-based actress Urmila Sanawar, who has claimed to be his wife. The BJP in the state had expelled Rathore from the party for six years in June this year in response to backlash after he publicly admitted his relationship with Sanawar.
Though the BJP in Uttarakhand refused to speak on the matter, a senior BJP leader said that the Opposition is raising the issue “unnecessarily” for political gains and pointed out that the Uttarakhand government had taken appropriate action in the case.
“The Uttarakhand HC has already dismissed a petition for a CBI probe. The accused were nabbed and have been jailed, swift action was taken by the Uttarakhand administration. The opposition is trying to raise this issue only to score political points,” said a senior BJP leader.
On Tuesday, a delegation of Congress leaders, led by Uttarakhand Congress state president Ganesh Godiyal, met Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) V. Murugesan. During the meeting, the Congress delegation submitted a memorandum to the ADG regarding various aspects of the murder case.
Congress state chief Ganesh Godiyal has already demanded a Supreme Court-monitored probe by the CBI into BJP national general secretary Gautam’s alleged role, a charge denied by him.
ThePrint had earlier reported that Gautam wrote to the Uttarakhand home secretary seeking action against certain social media accounts for spreading “misleading and malicious propaganda” against him. He also said he would retire from public life if the allegations are proved.
(Edited by Viny Mishra)
Also read: Ankita Bhandari murder case rocks Uttarakhand again: 2 new FIRs, video clips & a senior BJP leader