New Delhi: Voices are rising from throughout the BJP in Uttarakhand demanding strict motion within the Ankita Bhandari homicide case as new allegations sparked a political controversy within the state.

Days after two recent FIRs had been filed in Uttarakhand after audio and video clips surfaced alleging BJP nationwide basic secretary and state in-charge Dushyant Gautam’s hyperlink to the 2022 Ankita Bhandari homicide case, a senior celebration chief and former cupboard minister Vijaya Barthwal has now requested for an “neutral investigation by the CBI, in order that there isn’t a chance of any type of political strain or concealment”.

Chatting with ThePrint, Barthwal stated the difficulty was tarnishing the picture of the celebration and which is why a CBI probe was crucial. Barthwal identified {that a} current viral video has introduced the difficulty again into the highlight, “sparking political and social debate”.

“This horrific crime occurred within the sacred land of Mahadev, the place the security and respect of our daughters needs to be paramount. Ankita Bhandari, a younger woman, confronted excessive strain within the line of obligation and misplaced her life due to her dedication—this reality shakes us all. Three accused on this case have already been sentenced to life imprisonment,” she stated.

Bhandari, 19, was working as a receptionist at a Rishikesh resort on the time of her loss of life. Pulkit Arya, the resort’s proprietor and son of expelled BJP chief Vinod Arya, is serving a life time period for her homicide. Throughout the trial, Ankita’s pals and colleagues advised the court docket she was being pressured to offer “further providers” to VIPs and had refused to take action.

Although, Barthwal stated, the BJP authorities and the Uttarakhand administration have taken motion to punish the perpetrators, “justice (alone) shouldn’t be sufficient; it’s also vital to see that justice is finished; and if there are questions on this case, an neutral investigation needs to be carried out to reply these questions”.

“That’s the reason I strongly demand an neutral investigation by the CBI, in order that there isn’t a chance of any type of political strain or concealment. We might belong to any political celebration, however defending the dignity, honour, and id of our daughters is our best accountability. If our daughters will not be secure on this sacred land of Pahar Mahadev, then what’s the level of managing this state?”

Barthwal shouldn’t be the one one within the BJP to talk up on the difficulty. Former chief minister and Lok Sabha MP Trivendra Singh Rawat has additionally pressured that nobody ought to go unpunished if the allegations are true. Terming it a critical matter, Rawat, whereas chatting with the media final week stated the difficulty considerations girls who make as much as 50 p.c of society.

“It is a very critical concern. There’s a want to enter higher element. The matter is within the court docket and therefore it’s not potential to touch upon the matter however it’s a very critical matter,” he stated.

Other than him, senior BJP chief and former chairman of Sri Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee in Uttarakhand Ajendra Ajay has additionally demanded a CBI probe within the matter and demanded that BJP leaders who’ve been accused ought to voluntarily resign from their submit. “I firmly consider that the Ankita Bhandari case is actually a critical matter. To make sure that the general public stays freed from any doubts or apprehensions, any authorized motion or CBI investigation required needs to be taken,” he wrote on social media web site Fb.

“I additionally recommend that any leaders implicated on this case ought to resign from their positions on ethical grounds, within the curiosity of the celebration and to take care of public belief. They need to declare themselves that they are going to show their innocence and solely then settle for any place within the celebration,” he added.

The 2 FIRs registered just lately—in Dehradun and Haridwar—booked Suresh Rathore, an MLA from Jwalapur constituency in Haridwar and Saharanpur-based actress Urmila Sanawar, who has claimed to be his spouse. The BJP within the state had expelled Rathore from the celebration for six years in June this yr in response to backlash after he publicly admitted his relationship with Sanawar.

Although the BJP in Uttarakhand refused to talk on the matter, a senior BJP chief stated that the Opposition is elevating the difficulty “unnecessarily” for political good points and identified that the Uttarakhand authorities had taken acceptable motion within the case.

“The Uttarakhand HC has already dismissed a petition for a CBI probe. The accused had been nabbed and have been jailed, swift motion was taken by the Uttarakhand administration. The opposition is attempting to boost this concern solely to attain political factors,” stated a senior BJP chief.

On Tuesday, a delegation of Congress leaders, led by Uttarakhand Congress state president Ganesh Godiyal, met Extra Director Basic of Police (Regulation and Order) V. Murugesan. Throughout the assembly, the Congress delegation submitted a memorandum to the ADG relating to varied elements of the homicide case.

Congress state chief Ganesh Godiyal has already demanded a Supreme Court docket-monitored probe by the CBI into BJP nationwide basic secretary Gautam’s alleged position, a cost denied by him.

ThePrint had earlier reported that Gautam wrote to the Uttarakhand residence secretary looking for motion in opposition to sure social media accounts for spreading “deceptive and malicious propaganda” in opposition to him. He additionally stated he would retire from public life if the allegations are proved.

(Edited by Viny Mishra)

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Additionally learn: Ankita Bhandari homicide case rocks Uttarakhand once more: 2 new FIRs, video clips & a senior BJP chief

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