Cabinet Minister defends Govt stand on Ankita Bhandari Case
By Arun Pratap SinghGarhwal Post Bureau
Dehradun/Ramnagar, 29 Jan: State Forest Minister Subodh Uniyal has strongly defended the Uttarakhand government’s actions in the high-profile Ankita Bhandari murder case and responded to the questions raised by state Congress president Ganesh Godiyal. Speaking informally with the media during a programme related to Uttarakhand Forest Development Corporation here, Uniyal asserted that the government had acted promptly and decisively at every stage of the investigation. He said the state government had immediately constituted a Special Investigation Team, which not only recovered the body of the victim but also arrested the accused, pursued the case effectively in court and ensured their conviction.
Addressing allegations relating to the involvement of a so-called VIP, Uniyal said the government had repeatedly sought credible evidence to initiate an inquiry but no such material was produced by anyone. He clarified that despite this, the state government has recommended a CBI investigation into the VIP angle and said that the role of the state is limited to making the recommendation. He alleged that the opposition was indulging in protest for the sake of protest, which is aimed to weaken the democratic processes. He also added that dissent should be meaningful and issue-based rather than reflexive.
It may be recalled that Godiyal had questioned what the government was seeking to hide by preventing the test and also alleged that the report meant to be sent to the CBI had not been made public. Uniyal stated that that the state government has forwarded the proposal for the CBI inquiry to the Centre and that further clarity will emerge once an order is issued.
Citing Vietnam’s multi-million dollar timber export industry, Uniyal said the state government is in the process of drafting a new policy to promote wood-based industries in Uttarakhand. He also highlighted the state’s vast potential in medicinal plants and said a Herbal Mission worth Rs 628 crore has been launched through Van Panchayats. By integrating the Forest Development Corporation with the mission to create strong backward and forward linkages, the government aims to enhance the income of Van Panchayats and strengthen livelihoods at the grassroots level.
Responding to queries on alleged illegal mining in the Kosi River, the Cabinet Minister said strict action would be taken if any video evidence or formal complaint was brought to his notice. He asserted that the Forest Department has taken strong measures against corruption over the past four years and maintained that any form of malpractice would not be tolerated at any level.
Uniyal was speaking at the National Buyer-Seller Annual Conference ‘Samvad-2026’, organised by the Uttarakhand Forest Development Corporation in Ramnagar today. The conference, organised after a gap of nearly 13 years, witnessed participation from buyers belonging to 20 states who procure timber from the Corporation. The event focused on issues such as timber pricing, extraction processes, transparency and improved coordination, and aimed to strengthen mutual understanding by providing a platform for direct interaction under the theme ‘Vyavahar se Vyapar’.
The Forest Minister described the Uttarakhand Forest Development Corporation as a major revenue-generating institution for the state and said that nearly 71 per cent of Uttarakhand’s geographical area is under forest cover. He said the Corporation processes timber allotted by the Forest Department for traders and contributes significantly to the state’s revenue, while also acknowledging that further improvements are needed.
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