Story perspectives

Rahul Gandhi Urges President Suspend Sikkim Governor Pending CBI

By Drooid · Oct 18, 2026, 10:02 AM UTC · How we work

Summary

Rahul Gandhi Calls Suspension

Rahul Gandhi asked President Droupadi Murmu to suspend Dushyant Kumar Gautam’s Sikkim governorship pending CBI investigation.
Gautam, former BJP Uttarakhand in-charge, was appointed governor on Monday despite being named in Ankita Bhandari murder case.
Ankita Bhandari’s parents staged a sit-in at India Gate, were detained around 4 am Thursday and released an hour later.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge condemned the detention as state-sponsored oppression; other detained Congress figures were later released.

Summary

Dipke Preventive Custody

Dipke was placed in preventive custody under Sections 126 and 170 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita.
Police served Dipke two pre-protest notices, one invoking Section 163 BNSS and another demanding a Rs 50,000 peace bond.
Authorities said Dipke violated the undertaking, leading to a charge of unauthorized procession in Connaught Place.
Over 150 demonstrators were detained and FIRs filed for alleged breaches of prohibitory orders.

Left

Left Seats Plummet

Rahul Gandhi told IYC, NSUI and Seva Dal they are in the “wrong party” if seeking credit.
AISA, SFI and DSF alliance swept all four central-panel posts in JNU Students’ Union elections in November 2025.
Left’s Lok Sabha seats fell from 59 in 2004 to nine in 2024, with CPI(M) vote share at 1.78%.

History

Historical Context

On 25 June 1975 President Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed, on Prime Minister Indira Gandhi’s advice, invoked Article 352 and declared a national emergency that lasted until 21 March 1977. Using the Maintenance of Internal Security Act, the government detained more than 100,000 opponents, including future Janata leaders. Today’s preventive custody of Rahul Gandhi’s allies echoes that same legal framework.

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Rahul Gandhi Calls Suspension

Rahul Gandhi asked President Droupadi Murmu to suspend Dushyant Kumar Gautam’s Sikkim governorship pending CBI investigation.
Gautam, former BJP Uttarakhand in-charge, was appointed governor on Monday despite being named in Ankita Bhandari murder case.
Ankita Bhandari’s parents staged a sit-in at India Gate, were detained around 4 am Thursday and released an hour later.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge condemned the detention as state-sponsored oppression; other detained Congress figures were later released.

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