“Killed Because He Was A Dalit”: Rahul Gandhi Attacks CM Fadnavis On Parbhani Violence

Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, on Monday alleged that Somnath Suryavanshi was killed because he was a Dalit and was protecting the Constitution. His statement came after he met the family of Suryavanshi, who died in judicial custody after violence erupted in Maharashtra’s Parbhani on December 10.

“I have met the family and those who have been killed and beaten up. They showed me the post-mortem report, videos, and photographs. This is 100% a custodial death,” the Congress leader said.

Also Read | Uttar Pradesh: BJP MLA, Brother Among Accused In Badaun Gang Rape Case

In the state assembly recently, Fadnavis said Suryavanshi had told a magistrate that he was not tortured, and the CCTV footage also didn’t show signs of brutality. CM Fadnavis has ordered a judicial probe into the Parbhani violence.

Accusing Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis of lying in the assembly to “give a message to the police,” Rahul Gandhi said that Suryavanshi was killed “because he was a Dalit and was protecting the Constitution.”

“The ideology of the RSS is to destroy the Constitution,” stated Gandhi.

Calling for immediate action against those responsible, “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.”

Violence erupted in Parbhani after a glass-enclosed replica of the Constitution near Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar’s statue outside the railway station in the city was vandalised on December 10.

A resident of Shankar Nagar in Parbhani, the 35-year-old Suryavanshi was among the 50 arrested in connection with the case.

Also Read | “To Kill The Transparency In Election”: MK Stalin On Centre’s Election Documents Decision

While he was in judicial custody at the Parbhani district central prison, on December 15, he was rushed to a state-run hospital after complaints of chest pain and uneasiness. Suryavanshi died later that day.

Gandhi also met the family of Vijay Wakode, who had died during a protest in Parbhani following the violence.

Meanwhile, state BJP president and revenue minister Chandrashekar Bawankule criticised the Congress leader’s visit, calling it a “drama.”