Delhi Police detain Ankita Bhandari’s parents, Congress leaders during India Gate protest

Delhi Police detain Ankita Bhandari’s parents, Congress leaders during India Gate protest New Delhi: Delhi Police detained the parents of murdered Uttarakhand woman Ankita Bhandari and several Congress leaders during a protest at India Gate around 4 am on Thursday, triggering sharp criticism from the opposition, which accused the authorities of using force against a grieving family demanding justice. The early-morning police action came as Ankita's parents continued their protest against the appointment of BJP leader Dushyant Kumar Gautam as the Governor of Sikkim. The family has demanded that his appointment be halted until the completion of a CBI investigation into the alleged involvement of a VIP in their daughter's murder case. Congress leaders Pawan Khera, Supriya Shrinate and Qazi Nizamuddin, who were among those protesting, accused the Delhi Police of forcibly removing demonstrators, including women, and attempting to silence demands for accountability. “The police are detaining women protesters. The way they are manhandling MPs while detaining them is extremely shameful. The government must understand that the tears of Ankita Bhandari’s parents will cost it dearly,” a protester said. Congress MP Pawan Khera described the police intervention as an assault on democratic rights, questioning why the parents of a murder victim were being detained while they were demanding justice. You can see democracy coming to an end at India Gate. It is ending at 4 am,” Khera said. Khera also questioned Gautam's appointment to the constitutional post, referring to allegations raised against the BJP leader in connection with the case. "Barbarity is happening in this country. The one who has been accused will become the governor, and Ankita's parents will go to jail? We are protesting against rapists, so we will go to jail, and the one who has been accused of rape will become the governor—this is democracy." Congress leader Supriya Shrinate condemned the police action, alleging that the government was treating Ankita's parents harshly despite their prolonged campaign…