Garhwal Post Bureau
Yamkeshwar (Pauri), 18 Sep: On the death anniversary of Ankita Bhandari today, the Uttarakhand Congress organised a tribute meeting and staged a massive dharna at Ganga Bhogpur near Vanantra Restaurant, Yamkeshwar. The dharna was led by Congress state president Ganesh Godiyal. Senior leaders including campaign committee chairman Pritam Singh, election management committee chairman Harak Singh Rawat, former ministers Surendra Singh Negi and Shurveer Singh Sajwan, women’s wing president Jyoti Rautela and a large number party workers joined the dharna. Congress leaders paid floral tributes to Ankita’s portrait on the occasion and pledged to continue the struggle until her family receives justice. The party raised strong demands for expediting the delayed CBI investigation and for bringing out the truth behind the alleged ‘VIP’ angle in the case.
Addressing the gathering, Godiyal said Ankita has become a symbol of the voice and dignity of Uttarakhand’s daughters, and securing justice for her family was the responsibility of the entire state. He expressed concern that even after considerable time, no clear information on the progress of the CBI probe has been made public. He demanded that the government clarify the status of the investigation and reveal the truth about the alleged VIP involvement. He asserted that Congress would continue its struggle until justice is delivered. Pritam Singh said the issue is not merely political but one of Uttarakhand’s identity, the safety of daughters and public faith in the justice system. He vowed that Congress would maintain pressure on the government until full justice is achieved and the truth is revealed.
Harak Singh Rawat alleged that during the past four years of the Dhami government, atrocities and assaults on the women and minors have broken all records. He accused the BJP government of failing to expose the involvement of its leaders and the VIP responsible in the Ankita case, and charged that the government has remained silent on such heinous crimes. He said the incidents of atrocities against women and neglect of the unemployed prove that the corrupt and perpetrators of crimes are being protected by the state government. The dharna echoed with slogans of “Justice for Ankita and Reveal the VIP Truth,” as the gathering demanded ‘accountability’. The programme was conducted by former municipal president Rakesh Singh Minya.
Among those present on the occasion included Congress vicepresident Suryakant Dhasmana, general secretaries Rajendra Singh Bhandari and Rajendra Shah, Ashwini Bahuguna, Om Gopal Rawat, Rakesh Rana, social media head Abhinav Thapar, district president Vikas Negi, Mohit Uniyal, Sanjay Kishore, Meena Bachhwan, Aman Garg, Baleshwar Singh, Jayendra Ramola, spokesperson Garima Dasauni, Sanjay Saini, Surendra Rangar and Dinesh Kaushal.
