Newly Appointed Sikkim Governor Dushyant Kumar Gautam Arrives Amid Protests
Dushyant Kumar Gautam arrives in Gangtok as Sikkims new governor, facing protests over his appointment linked to a high-profile murder case.
Gangtok, October 18 (Daily Kiran) : Dushyant Kumar Gautam, the newly appointed governor of Sikkim, arrived at the Burutuk helipad in Gangtok on October 18. He is set to take the oath of office at Lok Bhavan on October 19.
His arrival was met with significant political opposition. Gautam was welcomed by Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang, Deputy Speaker of the Sikkim Assembly Rajkumari Thapa, members of the cabinet, local lawmakers, the mayor of Gangtok, and various senior officials.
However, protests erupted during his arrival, led by opposition parties, students, and local residents. They are demanding that the central government reconsider his appointment until the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) concludes its inquiry into the alleged ‘VIP’ connections in the Ankita Bhandari murder case.
The Sikkim Pradesh Congress Committee (SPCC) staged a protest in Gangtok on Friday, urging the withdrawal of Gautam’s appointment until the investigation is complete. They have also appealed to President Droupadi Murmu for intervention, arguing that the controversy raises questions about Gautam’s suitability for this constitutional position.
On Saturday, students and local residents continued the demonstrations, requesting a postponement of Gautam’s oath-taking ceremony until the investigation results are released. The parents of Ankita Bhandari have separately called for the cancellation of his appointment.
Notably, Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra met with protesters at India Gate in New Delhi to express solidarity with their cause.
Ankita Bhandari, a 19-year-old receptionist at Vanantara Resort in Uttarakhand’s Pauri Garhwal district, was murdered in September 2022. In 2023, the resort’s owner Pulkit Arya and two employees were convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment. However, questions regarding the alleged ‘VIP connection’ have resurfaced, prompting renewed calls for accountability as the CBI investigates this aspect.
