New Delhi: Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and his sister, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, marched to India Gate on Wednesday (October 14) evening to meet late Ankita Bhandari’s parents, who were staging a dharna there against the appointment of former BJP state-in-charge of Uttarakhand Dushyant Kumar Gautam as the governor of Sikkim.Bhandaria, a 19-year-old receptionist at the Vanantara resort, in Rishikesh, Uttarakhand, was killed and thrown into a canal in September 2022. The murder had made national headlines due to the hotel’s questionable management and the alleged involvement of a politically influential ‘VIP’ in alleged sex coercion.In August 2025, after nearly three years of trial, a sessions court had sentenced the three accused to life imprisonment. However, in spite of being reported widely, the ‘VIP’ angle never made it to the chargesheet.Bhandari’s family and supporters, who continue to demand a thorough investigation into the case, have alleged that Gautam, a former Rajya Sabha MP and BJP general secretary was the ‘VIP’ in question. They have alleged that due to his political influence, his name was not included in the investigation. Gautam has denied the allegations. Also read: Uttarakhand: Fact-Finding Team Alleges Cover Up in Police Probe of Ankita Bhandari MurderLoP Gandhi, who, along with her sister chatted with the parents, later posted on X expressing concern and demanding action against the alleged ‘VIP’. “For four years, Ankita Bhandari’s family has not received justice, but a ‘VIP’ accused has certainly been rewarded with protection and a constitutional position,” he wrote.“Where rapists and murderers are welcomed with garlands and criminals are honored with the power of authority – no hope can be expected from such a misogynistic BJP either. Today, Ankita’s parents, carrying the plea for justice for their daughter, are sitting at India Gate, miles away from their home. I and the Congress Party stand with them – in their grief as well as in this fight for justice,” he added.चार साल से अंकिता भंडारी के परिवार को इंसाफ नहीं मिला, लेकिन एक ‘VIP’ आरोपी को संरक्षण और संवैधानिक पद का इनाम ज़रूर मिला।जहां बलात्कारियों और हत्यारों का फूल-मालाओं से स्वागत होता है और अपराधियों को सत्ता की ताकत से नवाज़ा जाता है – उस महिला-विरोधी BJP से कोई उम्मीद की भी नहीं जा सकती।आज, अंकिता के माता-पिता अपनी बच्ची के लिए न्याय की गुहार ले कर, अपने घर से मीलों दूर, India Gate पर बैठे हैं।मैं और कांग्रेस पार्टी उनके साथ खड़े हैं – उनके दुख में भी और इंसाफ की इस लड़ाई में भी।#JusticeForAnkitaBhandari— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) October 14, 2026Bhandari’s parents, Virendra Singh Bhandari and Soni Devi, earlier spoke to the media gathered at India Gate and urged President Droupadi Murmu to suspend Gautam’s appointment until the ongoing probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe in their daughter’s murder is completed.“I earnestly request the Honorable President not to appoint Dushyant Kumar as Governor until the CBI investigation is concluded,” the father said.Meanwhile, Uttarakhand chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has responded to the scrutiny saying his government had already ensured swift arrests, an SIT investigation, life imprisonment for the convicts, and a CBI investigation into the matter.