The Ankita Bhandari Case and the Mounting Pressure on Dhami’s Government

The hills of Uttarakhand are once again restless. The closed case of Ankita Bhandari, the 19 year old receptionist murdered in Rishikesh in September 2022, has resurfaced with fresh intensity. A viral video and statements by actress Urmila Sanawar from Saharanpur have breathed new life into the demand for justice. Candlelight vigils, marches, and protests across Dehradun, Rishikesh, and hill districts have created a storm that the Dhami government cannot easily contain.

The public perception is clear: Ankita did not receive justice, neither from the law nor from the judiciary. This sentiment has been amplified by the resignation of a BJP youth leader, who declared that his party had failed the “daughter of the Himalayan hill.” Such symbolic acts have deep resonance in a state where emotional ties to justice and dignity run strong.

The government’s response has been defensive. Cabinet minister Subodh Uniyal asked agitators to provide proof if they had any, while firmly rejecting demands for a CBI inquiry. He insisted that the Special Investigation Team (SIT) was sufficient. Yet, this denial has only fueled suspicion. Protesters argue that if justice was truly delivered, why are they being asked to provide footage and proof? Why is transparency missing?

Adding fuel to the fire, a viral video of Rekha Arya’s husband—himself linked to the minister for women and child welfare—surfaced, allegedly suggesting that “a girl can be purchased for 20 or 25 thousand.” Such remarks have further dented the government’s credibility, raising questions about the seriousness with which women’s dignity is treated in the corridors of power.

The unrest is not limited to the streets. Within the BJP itself, murmurs of discontent are growing. Allegations that Dhami runs a “closed cabinet,” where even party portfolio holders are denied access, have surfaced. A BJP councillor from Nainital voiced these concerns publicly during the Nainital Carnival, exposing cracks in the ruling party’s internal discipline.

The protests have drawn strength from a larger national context. The Supreme Court’s rollback of Kuldeep Sengar’s bail in the Unnao rape case has emboldened citizens. The public believes that sustained agitation can reopen Ankita’s case and bring central agencies into play. This linkage between national judicial developments and local protests has made the movement harder for the state government to dismiss.

The Dhami government insists that justice has already been delivered to Ankita’s family. But is this claim credible? If justice was indeed served, why do citizens continue to demand a CBI probe? Why do candlelight vigils still light up Dehradun’s streets three years after the crime? Why do new allegations against BJP leaders keep surfacing, including claims of VIP involvement?

The situation is precarious. On one hand, the government wants to project efficiency and control, claiming that SIT officers are capable. On the other, the public sees opacity, denial, and insensitivity. The protests are not just about Ankita anymore—they are about the credibility of governance in Uttarakhand.

This raises critical questions. What will Chief Minister Dhami do to save his image? Can he continue to deny a CBI probe when public anger is mounting? Will he reshuffle his cabinet to silence dissent, or will he risk alienating his own party workers? And most importantly, what will the BJP high command do to save its face in a state where the party’s moral authority is being questioned?

The high command faces a dilemma. If it backs Dhami unconditionally, it risks being seen as complicit in shielding VIPs. If it intervenes, perhaps by ordering a CBI probe or replacing ministers, it risks destabilizing its own government. Either way, the stakes are high. Uttarakhand is not just a small hill state—it is a symbolic bastion of the BJP’s Hindutva politics, and losing credibility here could have ripple effects nationally.

For the public, the issue is simpler: justice delayed is justice denied. The people of Uttarakhand are asking why Ankita’s case, despite SIT investigations, still feels unresolved. They are asking why leaders make insensitive remarks about women’s dignity. They are asking why transparency is absent in a matter that touches the conscience of the entire hill.

The agitation is unlikely to fade soon. As candlelight vigils continue and opposition parties like Congress intensify protests, the Dhami government finds itself cornered. The longer it resists a central probe, the more it risks appearing indifferent to justice.

In the end, the Ankita Bhandari case is no longer just about one young woman’s tragic death. It has become a test of governance, accountability, and political morality in Uttarakhand. Whether Dhami survives this storm or whether the BJP high command steps in will determine not just the future of one government, but the credibility of an entire political establishment.