New Delhi: Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi has written to President of India Draupadi Murmu to reconsider the appointment of Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) leader Dushyant Gautam as the Governor of Sikkim. He has cited concerns over the unresolved investigation into the murder of Ankita Bhandari, the 19-year-old from Uttarakhand who was murdered in 2022.“Many people, including Ankita’s family, allege that Mr Gautam is linked with this crime,” writes Gandhi. “A governor must command the trust of the people of his state. No one under this shadow can,” he writes.Prime Minister Modi has “proved his utter disregard for women’s safety by advising Mr Gautam’s appointment,” writes Gandhi. “However, by long convention, the President has the right to warn the government, Article 74(1) gives you the power to ask for advice to be reconsidered. That is why I write to you as a last resort,” says the letter.Article 74(1) allows the President to require the Council of Ministers, which, led by the prime minister, appoints governors to states, to reconsider its advice once.“Please act – provide solace to Ankita’s grieving parents and protect the high post of Governor,” Gandhi writes.Bhandari’s parents were protesting since Sunday, October 11, at India Gate, after getting news of Gautam getting a gubernatorial post. They allege that he is one of the ‘VIP’ figures behind the attempted sexual exploitation of their deceased daughter, and that he must be brought to book.Gandhi’s letter argues that Gautam’s appointment in this context could complicate the ongoing investigation, being conducted by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into the alleged ‘VIP’ angle. This is because under Article 361, a serving governor enjoys constitutional immunity from criminal proceedings during their term.The letter sent by Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi to President of India Draupadi Murmu.Gandhi and Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra met the protesting Bhandari couple on Monday, October 12. Several Congress leaders, including the party’s media and publicity department head Pawan Khera, social media department head Supritya Shrinate, Lok Sabha MP Jothimani Sennimalai and Indian Youth Congress chief Uday Bhanu Chib were detained along with the Bhandaris. The police later released them.“Even before the results of that [CBI] investigation came in, the appointment [of Gautam] was rushed, and the parents asking questions were picked up in the dead of night. This is the hallmark of this government: silence the voices of the victims, remove those who ask questions,” Gandhi said.Ankita’s parents have said they will step up their protests against Bhandari’s promotion to a high constitutional post if the appointment is not cancelled.“We give a 24-hour ultimatum to the government for the cancellation of Dushyant’s appointment. Nationwide protests will be launched if the government does not accept our demand,” Ankita’s father told PTI.Ankita worked as a receptionist at a resort near Rishikesh, Uttarakhand. Her employer, Pulkit Arya, the son of former BJP leader Vinod Arya, and his two accomplices, resort manager Saurabh Bhaskar and assistant manager Ankit Gupta were convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment for the killing.The identity of the alleged VIP, who reportedly attempted to receive “special services” – a euphemism for sex work – from Ankita, which she refused, leading to her murder, is unknown. Gautam was the then in-charge for BJP’s Uttarakhand wing.A fact-finding team of the Uttarakhand Mahila Manch with 30 representatives from women’s groups and mass organisations has also raised doubts about the police investigation.Gautam was appointed Sikkim governor on October 12.