Dehradun: In a press conference held by the Uttarakhand Women’s Forum, the forum appealed to various social organizations, opposition parties, and citizens to participate in large numbers in the march to the Chief Minister’s residence on January 4th. Representatives of social organizations and opposition parties, present at the press conference held at the Press Club, stated that the march would be entirely peaceful and no one would be allowed to cause any disruption.
Kamla Pant, convenor of the Uttarakhand Women’s Forum, said that after the new allegations, there is a need to reinvestigate the case. It has become clear that the government had previously tried to protect the VIPs involved in Ankita’s case, and even after the names of two people have allegedly surfaced as VIPs, the government is still delaying action. She said that the main demands of the march to the Chief Minister’s residence would be to reveal the names of the VIPs and to take action against those who demolished Ankita’s room with a bulldozer. She also demanded that the government provide security to Urmila Sanawar, who made the allegations.
Dr. Ravi Chopra of the Uttarakhand Insaniyat Manch said that the audio recordings that have surfaced are serious. Despite this, the government is not investigating the matter. People are being asked to provide evidence, while the investigating agencies are under the government’s control; the government should conduct an investigation and take action. He said that this protest is being held for humanity, rising above community, caste, religion, and region. Mohit Dimri of the Mool Niwas Bhukanoon Sangharsh Samiti said that if the government does not accept the demands of the people even after the January 4th march, a larger movement will be launched across the state. This will include protests such as state-wide shutdowns and road blockades.
Indresh Maikhuri of CPI (ML) said that the lower court’s judgment repeatedly mentioned the VIPs. But why that VIP was kept outside the scope of the investigation is something that people have never accepted. This is why people have taken to the streets again after an alleged audio recording of a former BJP MLA surfaced. They said that the law provides for a fresh investigation if new facts emerge in a case. Therefore, the government should immediately investigate the individuals whose names have come up as VIPs in this matter.
Also present at the press conference were Roshan Dhasmana, president of Garhwal Sabha, Nirmala Bisht of Uttarakhand Mahila Manch, Pramila Rawat of UKD, Colonel Kailash Dhasmana of Uttarakhand Swabhiman Morcha, Usha Dobhal of Mool Niwas Bhukanoon Sangharsh Samiti, Dr. Uma Bhatt of Jan Vigyan Samiti, Sulochana Ishtwal, and Hariom Pali of IPTA.
