'BJP, RSS view women as objects': Rahul Gandhi slams Uttarakhand govt over Ankita Bhandari murder case

Malappuram: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday lashed out at the BJP-led Uttarakhand government over the recent death of Ankita Bhandari. The Wayanad MP alleged that she was killed by her employer (the son of a now expelled BJP leader) as she refused to accede to his demands to become a prostitute.

"A BJP leader who owned a hotel, his son, who ran the hotel, was forcing a young girl to become a prostitute. When she refused to become a prostitute, she was found dead in a lake...That is the way BJP treats women of India," he contended.

"It is the most disgusting, the most shameful example of how the BJP and RSS treat women in this country. The ideology of BJP and RSS views women as objects and second class citizens. India can never succeed with this ideology. A country which cannot learn to respect its women or empower them, can never achieve anything. A country which views its women as second class citizens is doomed to failure," he said while addressing a huge crowd in Kerala's Pandikkad.

Vanantra Resort receptionist Ankita Bhandari had gone missing on September 18, with the accused Pulkit Arya (the owner of the resort) informing the police the next day. Her body was found in the Cheela canal close to Rishikesh on September 24. The incident led to an eight-hour blockade of a key highway in Uttarakhand on September 25 by protestors demanding justice for her.

"Prime Minister's slogan - Beti Bachao. BJP's actions - to save rapists. He is the first Prime Minister of India whose legacy will be only speeches, false and hollow speeches. His rule is dedicated to the criminals. Now India will not sit silent," Gandhi had tweeted earlier in the day.

"There are some people in this country who are confused. They're under the impression that the answer to India's problems is to spread hatred, violence & anger in this country. They believe in dividing and weakening this country. Hatred is very easy to spread. It is very easy to insult someone but hatred and insults will never allow you to build a nation," he added.