Garhwal Post Bureau
Dehradun, 23 Jan: Uttarakhand Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) Chief Ganesh Godiyal addressed a press conference at the Congress headquarters here today. During the press conference, he alleged that Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, under pressure from public outrage, hastily announced a CBI inquiry into the Ankita Bhandari murder case. He alleged that this declaration is proving to be no different from the earlier announcement of a CBI probe into the paper leak case, as no clarity has emerged on whether the CBI has issued any statement in either matter. Earlier, Godiyal paid tributes to the soldiers who lost their lives in the military vehicle accident in Doda, Jammu and Kashmir.
Godiyal claimed that the state government’s approach to the Ankita Bhandari investigation has lacked sincerity from the outset, accusing the Dhami administration of engaging in a cover-up since day one. He warned that unless prompt action is taken, a fresh agitation will be launched to secure justice for Ankita. He further highlighted that the inquiry into the suicide case of farmer Sukhwant Singh from Kashipur remains incomplete, with no action taken against the police personnel found guilty. He questioned why, instead of ensuring public safety, certain officers were transferred to Rudraprayag and Chamoli in what he described as a departmental cover-up, while others were deployed for the Chief Minister’s security.
Godiyal also claimed that several BJP leaders had been keen to visit Arvind Pandey’s residence for tea, with even a helicopter kept ready, but the plan was abruptly cancelled due to sudden developments. He criticised the BJP leaders for frequently mocking alleged factionalism within Congress while ignoring divisions within their own ranks. He reiterated that Congress has consistently maintained that BJP is split into factions, which has become evident once again when different groups have scrambled to enlist Arvind Pandey the moment he spoke against Dhami. He reminded them of the proverb that those living in glass houses should not throw stones at others.
Responding to a media query, Godiyal claimed that while it is BJP’s prerogative whose photographs they display on hoardings and posters, the sudden disappearance of Dushyant Gautam’s image from BJP banners suggests that even within the party there is suspicion of his involvement as the VIP in the Ankita Bhandari case. He alleged that distancing themselves from such leaders after a prolonged delay is nothing but an attempt to mislead the public.
Among those present at the press conference were Congress Media Incharge Rajiv Maharshi, spokespersons Pratima Singh and Garima Dasauni and Social Media representative Abhinav Thapar.
