- Ankita Bhandari's parents detained at India Gate during protest.
- Demand Dushyant Gautam's Sikkim Governor appointment cancellation.
- Issued 24-hour ultimatum for Governor appointment revocation.
Ankita Bhandari Murder Case: The parents of Ankita Bhandari, who was murdered in Uttarakhand in 2022, along with the Congress leaders, were released shortly after being detained during their sit-in at Delhi's India Gate. The victim's parents staged a sit-in at India Gate for several hours, demanding cancellation of the appointment of BJP leader Dushyant Kumar Gautam as the Governor of Sikkim. They have demanded a thorough investigation into his alleged role in the murder case.
Parents Demand Detailed Probe
While talking to the reporters during detention, the parents stated that Gautamshould not be appointed on the post until being acquitted in the case. "We want to state that we will remain steadfast until his appointment is revoked...If we are not permitted to sit here, we will sit on a hunger strike in our own homes," Bhandari's mother was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.
#WATCH | Ankita Bhandari murder case | Delhi | Ankita Bhandari's mother says, "We want to state that we will remain steadfast until his (Dushyant Gautam) appointment is revoked... If we are not permitted to sit here, we will sit on a hunger strike in our own homes..." Her father says, "We give the government a 24-hour ultimatum: the appointment of Dushyant Kumar as the Governor of Sikkim must be cancelled. If it is not revoked, the people across the entire country will take to the streets, and the government will be held responsible"
— ANI (@ANI) October 15, 2026
Apart from this, Bgandari's father warned that a large-scale protest will begin if Gautam's appointment was not cancelled in 24 hours. "We give the government a 24-hour ultimatum: the appointment of Dushyant Kumar as the Governor of Sikkim must be cancelled. If it is not revoked, the people across the entire country will take to the streets, and the government will be held responsible," he said.
Congress Joins Protest
Earlier on Wednesday, senior Congress leaders Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi visited India Gate to meet the parents of Ankita Bhandari. As per the reports, Rahul Gandhi has assured them of assistance and demanded a detailed probe into the allegations. The other senior leaders of the party, including Pawan Khera, Supriya Shrinate, and Vinod Jhakhar remained present at the site.
"The person accused of rape gets to move into a Governor's residence, while the rape survivor and those standing in her support end up at a police station. This is the state of affairs in the national capital. Rahul ji and Priyanka ji have assured her of their full support and given her confidence. The entire party stands with her. We will ensure that justice is served to Ankita Bhandari until our last breath," Khera was quoted as saying by news agency IANS.