In a significant show of protest, Congress workers and leaders in Uttarakhand took to the streets on Wednesday, vociferously demanding justice in the sensitive Rishikesh resort murder case and accusing the state's BJP government of shielding influential people.
March from Gandhi Park to Numaish Ground
The protest saw Congress functionaries and supporters marching from Gandhi Park to Numaish Ground in Dehradun. They raised strong slogans against the BJP-led state administration, expressing public discontent over the handling of the high-profile case. Simultaneously, workers from the Bageshwar and Kapkot assembly constituencies joined the chorus, pressing the government to reveal the identity of the VIP allegedly involved. They accused the authorities of protecting powerful individuals connected to the case.
Congress Vows to Escalate Protests Statewide
Leading a dedicated 'Nyay Yatra' (Justice March) in Bageshwar, Congress Working Committee member Karan Mahara declared that the party would amplify the issue across Uttarakhand until justice is delivered. He outlined the party's plan to take the protest to the grassroots level. "We have already held a justice march at the district headquarters. Now we will organise padyatras from village to village," Mahara stated. He dismissed Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami's statement about being open to any investigation requested by the victim's family as "mere showmanship."
The Congress launched a direct attack on the BJP, claiming public fury has intensified after the name of the party's state in-charge emerged in connection with the case. Mahara demanded the immediate arrest of all accused and stringent punishment for the guilty. He warned that protests would be intensified if justice is delayed and called for a CBI investigation under the supervision of a sitting Supreme Court judge.
Leadership Reiterates Demand for Impartial CBI Probe
Echoing the demand, Congress state president Ganesh Godiyal reiterated the party's call for a CBI probe. He alleged that a fair investigation was impossible under the current BJP leadership. "How can the SIT function impartially when question marks are being raised over members of the ruling party? A CBI probe is necessary to ensure the truth comes out in this sensitive case," Godiyal asserted. He added that CM Dhami had no option but to recommend a CBI investigation and was instead trying to divert public attention by claiming he would meet the victim's parents.
The protests underscore growing political tension in Uttarakhand, with the opposition Congress seeking to capitalise on the alleged lapses in the investigation to corner the state government. The demand for an external probe led by the CBI has become the central point of contention, setting the stage for further political confrontations.
