I Have Worked with Dushyant Gautam Ji for Years and Know His Character and Ideology Through Personal Experience: Shant Prakash Jatav
The Ankita Bhandari case should not be reduced to political allegations and counter-allegations. Facts, evidence, and due respect for the judicial process must remain paramount.
I, Shant Prakash Jatav, BJP leader and National President of the Bharatiya Janata Mazdoor Sangh, have worked alongside senior BJP leader Shri Dushyant Gautam Ji for many years. During our long association in organizational work, I had the opportunity to observe his personality, working style, ideology, and outlook towards society at close quarters.
Based on my personal experience, I would like to state that I have never seen Dushyant Gautam Ji making remarks or displaying behaviour that reflected disrespect towards women or an inappropriate attitude towards daughters. On the contrary, I have observed in him a positive outlook towards society, a concern for social issues, and an emphasis on the dignity and respect of daughters.
For him, respect for daughters is not merely a matter of words; it has been an important aspect of his working style and social conduct. In my personal experience, his behaviour has reflected values that can serve as a positive example for society. I am making this statement not on the basis of hearsay, but on the strength of my own experience of working with him for years and observing him closely.
The Ankita Bhandari case is an extremely sensitive matter. Ankita was a daughter of Uttarakhand, and ensuring justice for her is a collective responsibility. Her memory, the sentiments of her family, and the broader concerns surrounding women's safety must not be confined to political accusations and counter-accusations. If any allegations or evidence emerge against any individual, they must be investigated impartially, and the matter must be decided in accordance with the law.
However, it is equally inappropriate to link a sensitive case to a political leader and present allegations as established facts without substantiation. Any conclusion regarding Shri Dushyant Gautam Ji must be based on facts, evidence, and due legal process. I consider it my responsibility to publicly clarify the opinion I have formed about his character and conduct towards women through my years of personal association with him.
I would also like to point out that Shri Dushyant Gautam Ji belongs to the Scheduled Caste community and is a senior figure in public life. It is inappropriate to use any individual's social identity as a political weapon. Protecting the dignity, equality, and constitutional rights of the Scheduled Caste community does not mean opposing the investigation of allegations. Rather, it means ensuring that every individual is treated fairly and equally under the law.
Shri Dushyant Gautam Ji's appointment as the Governor of Sikkim is a constitutional appointment. Any claim seeking to link this appointment to another case must be assessed on the basis of evidence rather than political perceptions.
My clear position is that demanding justice for Ankita Bhandari and presenting Shri Dushyant Gautam Ji's side based on my personal experience are not mutually exclusive. Every citizen has the right to demand justice, but it is equally important to exercise fairness and consider the facts before drawing conclusions about an individual's character.
I appeal to all political parties to exercise restraint on this sensitive issue, maintain respect for Ankita Bhandari and her family, and refrain from declaring anyone guilty without evidence.
I have worked with Dushyant Gautam Ji for many years. Based on my personal experience of observing his personality and conduct at close quarters, I am expressing my views with complete clarity and a sense of responsibility. I firmly believe that individuals in public life should be assessed not on the basis of political allegations, but on the basis of facts, conduct, and evidence.
Shant Prakash Jatav
National President
Bharatiya Janata Mazdoor Sangh
BJP Leader
