NEW DELHI: Parbhani in Maharashtra turned into a political battleground on Monday as Congress leader Rahul Gandhi visited the city to meet the family of Somnath Suryawanshi, who died in judicial custody on December 15. The ruling BJP called Rahul’s visit an “attempt to create hatred among people on caste lines”.
Somnath, a 35-year-old law student, was part of a large mob that was held after violence in Parbhani following the desecration of the replica of the Constitution kept in the hand of a statue of Dr BR Ambedkar.
After meeting the family, Rahul Gandhi called Suryawanshi’s death “100% custodial death“, and said the man was killed “because he was a Dalit”.
“He has been murdered and the chief minister lied in the Assembly to give a message to the police. This young man was killed because he was a Dalit and was protecting the Constitution,” the Lok Sabha leader of the opposition told news agency ANI.
‘Visit for political purpose’
Reacting to Rahul Gandhi’s visit chief minister Devendra Fadnavis said the Congress leader visited Parbhani for “political purposes”.
“Rahul Gandhi has come here only for political purposes, this was just a political meeting, an attempt to create hatred among people on caste lines, he has been doing this work for the last many years, so I think his work of spreading hatred, has completed today in Parbhani,” Fadvanis told news agency ANI.
Fadnavis said the state government was sensitive and the strictest action would be taken in the matter.
“The government of Maharashtra is sensitive, so we have announced a judicial inquiry into this entire matter. All the truth will come out in the judicial inquiry. Nothing will be hidden, there is no reason for it and if it is revealed in that investigation that the death has happened due to assault or any other reason, then no one will be spared and the strictest action will be taken,” he added.
Attacking the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), the BJP’s ideological mentor, Rahul Gandhi claimed it was Sangh’s ideology to destroy the Constitution.
“The ideology of the RSS is to destroy the Constitution. We want this matter to be resolved immediately and those who have done this should be punished. No politics is being done. The ideology is responsible because the chief minister has made this statement so the chief minister is responsible, those who have killed him are responsible and action should be taken as soon as possible,” Rahul Gandhi said.
What happened in Parbhani?
On December 14, police imposed prohibitory orders in Parbhani city and arrested 40 people after the bandh over damage to a replica of the Indian Constitution turned violent.
The bandh was called after an individual allegedly desecrated the replica of the Indian Constitution installed near Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar’s statue near the collectorate in Parbhani on December 10, setting off protests and even stone-pelting in the area.
The agitators torched and looted shops in the area, besides resorting to stone-pelting. The accused in the case was caught by the residents, who handed him over to the police after beating him up.
Later, Fadnavis announced a judicial inquiry into the violent protests and arson in the district that raised questions about police conduct.
The government also suspended Parbhani superintendent of police Ashok Ghorband till an inquiry is completed for alleged misuse of the police force.
Fadnavis announced a compensation of Rs 10 lakh for the family of Suryawanshi, who died in custody on December 15.
