# Congress Opposes Dushyant Gautam's Appointment as Sikkim Governor Over Ankita Bhandari Case, CM Dhami Hits Back > The Congress party staged demonstrations against the appointment of BJP leader Dushyant Gautam as Sikkim Governor, citing his alleged connection to the Ankita Bhandari murder case, while Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami accused the opposition of playing politics. **Type:** article · **Category:** India · **Published:** 2026-10-15 · **Source:** TrendKia **Canonical:** https://trendkia.com/en/national/sikkima-ke-nae-gavarnara-pada-para-dushyant-gautam-ki-niyukti-ke-virodha-men-utari-congress-cm-dhami-ne-kiya-palatavara-47957 · **Language:** English **Tags:** Ankita Bhandari Case, Dushyant Gautam, Pushkar Singh Dhami, Harish Rawat, Rahul Gandhi, Sikkim Governor, Uttarakhand Politics A major political confrontation erupted on Thursday following the central government's move to name Bharatiya Janata Party leader Dushyant Gautam as the Governor of Sikkim. The Congress party launched widespread protests, demanding that the appointment be stayed immediately. The opposition argued that Gautam's name had surfaced during investigations into the high-profile Ankita Bhandari murder case, warning that granting him constitutional immunity would hinder a transparent and impartial legal process while the case remains open. ## Letter to the President and Protests from Delhi to Dehradun Leading the campaign, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi addressed a formal letter to the President seeking an immediate halt to Gautam's gubernatorial appointment. Prior to dispatching the communication, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi joined the grieving family of Ankita Bhandari at India Gate in New Delhi to stage a demonstration. The victim's parents maintain that until the Central Bureau of Investigation completes its probe into the entire conspiracy, Dushyant Gautam should not be sworn into any constitutional post. ## Congress Takes to Streets Across Uttarakhand The issue triggered rallies across multiple locations in Uttarakhand. In Dehradun, former Chief Minister Harish Rawat spearheaded a mass demonstration, asserting that Congress workers would not stay quiet and were prepared to face imprisonment in their quest to secure justice for Ankita Bhandari. Rawat stated that elevating Gautam to a gubernatorial role amounted to rubbing salt into the wounds of the bereaved family. Adding to the offensive, Congress Uttarakhand in-charge Kumari Selja warned that the national mood has shifted, stating that the public will not tolerate such actions and that the ruling party would face severe consequences. ## The Resort Incident and the VIP Controversy Ankita Bhandari was employed as a receptionist at a resort in Uttarakhand before her body was recovered under tragic circumstances. Police subsequent action led to the arrest of four individuals, including the owner of the resort property. During the investigation, attention centered around mentions of an unidentified influential visitor after WhatsApp exchanges between the victim and her friend came to light. The messages revealed that the resort owner had been pressuring her to offer specialized services to a VIP in exchange for money. Her refusal led to a heated altercation with the accused, resulting in her murder. Regarding the police investigation, Uttarakhand ADG of Law and Order Dr. V. Murugesan had earlier confirmed that a detailed 500-page charge sheet was filed in connection with the murder. ## Chief Minister Dhami Rebuts Opposition Charges Responding firmly to allegations leveled by Rahul Gandhi, Harish Rawat, and other opposition leaders, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami stated that the administration has handled the tragedy with utmost sensitivity since day one. Dhami highlighted that all necessary assistance was promptly extended to the family, the perpetrators were sent to jail, financial relief was provided, and the investigation was handed over to the CBI at the family's request. Accusing the Congress party of exploiting a tragedy for partisan political gain, Dhami maintained that the government stands committed to delivering justice while the opposition is merely focused on creating political drama. ## What this means for you This political escalation and widespread demonstration directly influence state-level governance, administrative accountability, and the broader demand for institutional justice. - **Across India:** The controversy triggers a nationwide debate on the standards and criteria governing gubernatorial appointments. Citizens and legal observers are closely examining the implications of constitutional immunity for public figures linked to active criminal probes. - **In Uttarakhand:** The renewed movement reignites public demands for justice and robust workplace security for young employees across the state. Demonstrations in key urban centers like Dehradun have led to heightened security measures and ongoing political mobilization. - **Impact on Investigation:** The heightened political scrutiny places an intense spotlight on the pending CBI investigation. It reinforces expectations for a thorough and expedited inquiry that leaves no questions unanswered. - **Institutional Trust:** The public clash between ruling and opposition parties impacts citizen perception of judicial and executive fairness. It encourages increased civic engagement regarding how sensitive criminal cases involving influential persons are handled. ## Why this happened The confrontation was triggered by the central decision to name BJP leader Dushyant Gautam as the Governor of Sikkim, reigniting debate over his alleged links to the unresolved aspects of the Ankita Bhandari case. - **The Immediate Trigger:** The controversy erupted immediately following the announcement of Dushyant Gautam's appointment to the gubernatorial office. The opposition swiftly demanded an immediate halt until all pending investigations are concluded. - **Case Background:** The issue originates from the tragic death of resort receptionist Ankita Bhandari, whose messages alleged coercion to offer services to a VIP visitor. While law enforcement arrested four people including the resort owner and submitted a 500-page charge sheet, questions surrounding the VIP angle persisted. - **Constitutional Concerns:** Opponents and the victim's family argue that holding a gubernatorial position confers constitutional protections that could complicate investigative proceedings. This prompted Congress leadership to petition the President directly against the swearing-in. - **Expected Course of Action:** With the investigation officially referred to the CBI as confirmed by the state leadership, the next developments hinge on the findings of the federal agency and institutional responses to the petition. ## Questions & Answers ### 1. Why is the Congress party protesting against Dushyant Gautam's appointment? The party contends that Gautam's name surfaced in connection with the Ankita Bhandari case and that he should not receive a constitutional appointment while the investigation is ongoing. ### 2. What did Rahul Gandhi request in his letter to the President? Rahul Gandhi urged the President to withhold the appointment of Dushyant Gautam as the Governor of Sikkim. ### 3. What official legal actions have been taken in the Ankita Bhandari case so far? Police arrested four individuals including the resort owner, and an official 500-page charge sheet was submitted in the case. ### 4. How did Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami respond to the opposition's allegations? Chief Minister Dhami stated that the government supported the family, arrested the accused, and referred the case to the CBI, while accusing Congress of politicizing the tragedy. ### 5. What is the demand of Ankita Bhandari's family regarding the governorship? The victim's family has demanded that Dushyant Gautam's appointment as Governor be stayed until the CBI investigation concludes. --- _TrendKia — Har trend, sabse pehle.. Machine-readable view; canonical HTML at the URL above._