By Shishir Prashant 
PrashantNews
The Uttarakhand Congress on Friday staged a protest near Chilla barrage on the fourth death anniversary of Ankita Bhandari, demanding that the identity of the alleged VIP linked to the case be made public, a move decried by Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami who said the CBI inquiry will unravel the truth.
Responding to the Congress protests, Dhami said the government has taken action in the case and that three accused had been sentenced to life imprisonment. “Action has been taken in the Ankita Bhandari case. Three accused have been sentenced to life imprisonment. Ankita’s parents had demanded a CBI inquiry. The CBI inquiry is underway and it will bring out the truth,” Dhami said.
Led by state Congress president Ganesh Godiyal, a large number of party workers gathered at a ground opposite Kaudia bridge near Chilla Barrage and protested against the BJP governments at the Centre and in the state.
Addressing the gathering, Godiyal said Ankita’s death had revived memories of the case and asked CBI to disclose the identities of all those VIPs allegedly involved in the murder. He alleged that Ankita’s chats with a friend had pointed to an alleged VIP whom she had refused to provide “special services”.
Godiyal also alleged that the room where Ankita had stayed was demolished with a bulldozer, destroying evidence that could have shed light on the case. He said people had been waiting for four years for the alleged VIP’s identity to be disclosed.
He said the state government ordered a CBI probe last year following public protests, but alleged that there had been no visible progress in the investigation.
If the BJP government does not reveal the VIP’s identity, then Congress will identify all those VIPs responsible for the murder when it comes to power after elections, Godiyal said.
Congress campaign committee chairman Pritam Singh accused the BJP of honouring a person whom, he claimed, people considered responsible for the alleged murder. Harak Singh Rawat said the party would continue to demand justice for Ankita.
Senior Congress leader Suryakant Dhasmana raised concerns over crimes against women in Uttarakhand and alleged political protection for accused persons.
After the protest, Congress workers led by Godiyal, Pritam Singh and Rawat took out a march to the Vanantara Resort, where they paid floral tribute to Ankita’s portrait.