Congress leaders back Bhandari family protest over Sikkim governor appointment

Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra have lent their support to a protest mounted by the family of Ankita Bhandari against the recent appointment of a Sikkim governor, with critics questioning the grant of VIP status to the position.

Ankita Bhandari, a receptionist at Vanantra Resort in Yamkeshwar near Rishikesh, was murdered in 2022. The case drew significant public and political attention, with her family continuing to seek accountability and justice.

The Congress leaders' participation in the family's demonstration underscores the political dimensions of the case, with opposition parties using the appointment decision as a focal point to raise broader questions about governance and institutional priorities.

The protest highlights simmering discontent over how high-profile cases are handled and the allocation of governmental resources and privileges. The Bhandari family's sustained activism has kept the matter in the public eye, attracting support from various political quarters.

The appointment controversy comes as the Bhandari family continues its campaign for transparency and accountability in the handling of their daughter's case and related administrative decisions.