BJP MLA says Ankita Bhandari’s parents should reject aid if justice is their only demand

A BJP legislator from Uttarakhand has triggered a political controversy after suggesting that the family of murdered receptionist Ankita Bhandari should refuse government assistance if their sole demand is justice for their daughter.

Speaking to the media on Thursday, BJP MLA Dilip Rawat said he supported the family's demand for justice but questioned why they would accept government assistance while expressing dissatisfaction with the state government's actions.

Rawat said he stood with women who had faced injustice and supported Ankita's family in their fight for justice. However, he argued that accepting assistance was inconsistent with their objections to the government's handling of the case.

“While I stand by her family and support their cause when they say that they have not gotten justice and they are unhappy with all attempts being made by the state government. I feel that the government has given them some assistance, and if they are unhappy with the government's actions, then they should reject such help,” he said.

Congress questions BJP's position

Rawat said he was not certain whether the government had provided assistance to Ankita's family. However, he maintained that if justice was their only demand, they should reject any assistance and concentrate on securing justice.

He also urged the state government to take the family's demand seriously and work towards ensuring justice.

“I do not know if the government has given any assistance, but if they (Ankita Bhandari's family) only demand justice then they should reject all assistance provided and only talk about justice. Our government should also seriously consider their demand and work towards ensuring justice for the family,” he said.

The BJP MLA added that when someone seeks justice, other forms of assistance become irrelevant because securing justice should remain their only objective.

His remarks drew a sharp response from the Congress. Uttarakhand Congress senior vice-president Suryakant Dhasmana described them as a reflection of the BJP's “anti-women mindset”.

Dhasmana also demanded that the BJP clarify whether the compensation paid to Ankita's family was conditional on them refraining from raising demands to expose the alleged “VIP” involved in the case.

He said the compensation had come from the public exchequer, funded by taxpayers, and not from the BJP's own funds. He accused the ruling party of repeatedly attempting to protect the alleged VIP linked to the case.

“The compensation was paid from the public exchequer, comprising the hard-earned money of the people, and not from the BJP's own coffers. BJP is repeatedly making malicious attempts, under various pretexts, to protect the 'VIP' who is the true culprit in the Ankita Bhandari case,” Dhasmana said.

He added that the alleged perpetrator would not escape justice and claimed that a Congress government would bring the person responsible for the crime to justice if the party returned to power.

What happened to Ankita Bhandari?

Ankita Bhandari, a 19-year-old receptionist at Vantara Resort near Rishikesh, was murdered on September 18, 2022.

Resort owner Pulkit Arya and two employees, Saurabh Bhaskar and Ankit Gupta, were arrested in connection with the murder. All three were subsequently convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment by a court.

The case has continued to draw political attention, particularly over allegations concerning the involvement of an influential “VIP” and demands from Ankita's family for further action.