๐Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi on Monday met the family of Parbhani resident Somnath Suryavanshi, who died in judicial custody after being held for violence in the Marathawad region. Gandhi alleged that Suryavanshi was "killed" because he was a Dalit and protecting the Constitution.
๏ทฝChief Minister Fadnavis, who holds the home portfolio, hit out at Gandhi and said his visit to Parbhani was "only for political reasons" and to "create hatred".
๐ฅParbhani witnessed violence after a glass-enclosed replica of the Constitution near Dr Babasaheb Ambedkarโs statue outside the city's railway station was vandalised on December 10.
๐ผSuryavanshi (35), a resident of Shankar Nagar, was one of the 50 people arrested during the violence and police said that he died later in a state-run hospital after falling ill.
เตฒSuryavanshi died on December 15 at a state-run hospital where he was rushed after complaining of chest pain and uneasiness while in judicial custody and lodged at the Parbhani district central prison, reported PTI.
๐ ทThe state government has ordered a judicial probe into the Parbhani violence.
What Did Rahul Gandhi Say?
๐ Congress MP Rahul Gandhi who met Suryavanshi's family alleged that police "killed" Suryavanshi, and it was a ''cent per cent custodial death".
๐ The Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, talking to reporters later, said Suryavanshi's family members showed him the post-mortem report, as well as some photographs and videos.
๊ฆฐGandhi said, ''The youth was killed because he was a Dalit and protecting the Constitution. This is a cent per cent custodial death. The police have murdered him. The chief minister lied in the assembly to give a message to the police. The RSS ideology is to wipe out the Constitution."
๐Gandhi demanded that those who killed the man be punished swiftly.
"This is not politics, there has been a murder and action has to be taken," the Congress MP insisted.
๊ฆAsked who was responsible for the Parbhani violence, Gandhi said, "Certain ideology is responsible for this and since the chief minister has spoken, he, too, is responsible."
๐Later, Gandhi also met the family of local resident Vijay Wakode, who died during a protest in Parbhani following the violence.
Chief Minister Fadnavis' Reaction
๐Speaking to reporters in Pune on the sidelines of an event, Fadnavis said, "Rahul Gandhi came only for political reasons. His job is to create hatred among people. We are investigating all cases. The matter is in court."
โญ"If it is proved that the death occurred due to police assault, then no one will be spared," the CM assured.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis ๊งsaid in the assembly last week that Suryavanshi had told a magistrate that he was not tortured in custody and CCTV footage also doesn't show any evidence of police brutality.
