Carnival or Crisis: Uttarakhand’s Leadership at a Crossroad

On December 25, 2025, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami inaugurated the Nainital Winter Carnival, a festival revived after a gap of nearly three years. The event was positioned as a grand celebration of culture and tourism, with the government dedicating development projects worth over ₹121 crore to Nainital’s progress. Dhami emphasized winter tourism as a “mass movement” crucial for building a self-reliant Uttarakhand, echoing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call for winter travel. The carnival drew participation from local celebrities such as Pawandeep Rajan and radio personalities, injecting energy into a region where hotels and homestays had suffered severe economic losses due to communal disturbances in the past six months.

Yet, the timing of this celebration raises uncomfortable questions. Uttarakhand has not fully healed from the communal rifts that disrupted business and social harmony earlier in 2025. Many hoteliers and small entrepreneurs continue to struggle, and while tourism festivals may provide temporary relief, they cannot mask deeper fractures. The carnival’s declaration as a public holiday was seen by some as a diversionary tactic, shifting attention from pressing issues such as justice for Ankita Bhandari, the 19-year-old receptionist murdered in September 2022 after allegedly resisting sexual advances from resort operators.

The case sparked widespread outrage, with protests demanding accountability from the state machinery. Despite arrests, delays in trial proceedings have left many citizens disillusioned, questioning whether the government’s priorities lie in justice or spectacle.

The juxtaposition of celebration and tragedy is stark. On one hand, the carnival symbolizes resilience, cultural pride, and economic revival. On the other, it risks trivializing the pain of families still awaiting justice. Critics argue that festivals cannot substitute governance, and that leadership must confront uncomfortable truths rather than distract the public. Former Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat has openly questioned Dhami’s leadership, suggesting that the state’s focus on optics undermines credibility.

The BJP’s troubles extend beyond Uttarakhand. Nationally, the party has faced embarrassment in cases such as Kuldeep Singh Sengar in Uttar Pradesh, convicted of rape but later granted bail, and controversies around legislators in Aravalli. These incidents have fueled perceptions of a party struggling to balance law and order with political expediency. In Uttarakhand, the Ankita Bhandari case has become emblematic of this crisis of credibility. The public sees parallels between her stalled justice and the broader pattern of delayed accountability in cases involving powerful individuals.

Data underscores the stakes. Tourism contributes nearly 20% to Uttarakhand’s GDP, with Nainital being a key hub. The pandemic and subsequent communal tensions caused a sharp decline in occupancy rates, with some estimates suggesting losses of 40–50% in 2023–24. Reviving festivals is thus economically rational. However, crime statistics reveal another reality: crimes against women in Uttarakhand rose by 18% between 2021 and 2024, according to NCRB data. This duality—economic revival versus social justice—defines the dilemma facing Dhami’s government.

Statements from activists highlight the tension. Women’s rights groups argue that “justice delayed is justice denied” in Ankita’s case, and that festivals cannot erase the trauma of gender-based violence. Local business associations, meanwhile, cautiously welcome the carnival, noting that “without tourism, livelihoods collapse.” The government’s challenge is to reconcile these competing demands without appearing indifferent to either.

The analysis suggests that the carnival is both necessary and problematic. Necessary, because tourism revival is vital for Uttarakhand’s economy and cultural identity. Problematic, because it risks being perceived as a distraction from unresolved justice and governance failures. Leadership in such moments requires balance: celebrating heritage while ensuring accountability. Dhami’s rhetoric of “development along with heritage” must translate into concrete action on law and order, not just cultural showcases.

Ultimately, the question is not whether Uttarakhand should celebrate festivals, but whether it can afford to do so without addressing the wounds of its people. The Ankita Bhandari case remains a litmus test for the state’s moral compass. Until justice is delivered, every celebration will carry the shadow of unfinished responsibility. The carnival may bring temporary cheer, but the credibility of governance depends on whether Uttarakhand’s leadership can confront crises with the same vigor it brings to festivities.