New Delhi: Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will tour Maharashtra’s Parbhani on Monday to meet the relatives of the two persons who lost their lives in violence that broke out there earlier this month.
Violence erupted in Maharashtra’s Parbhani after a glass-enclosed replica of the Constitution, which was placed near Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar’s statue outside the railway station, was vandalised on December 10 evening. The statue is located in the Marathwada region.
Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar shared the schedule of Rahul Gandhi’s visit to Parbhani. According to it, Rahul Gandhi will meet the families of Ambedkarites Somnath Suryavanshi, who allegedly died while in police custody, and Vijay Wakode, who lost his life while participating in the protest, PTI report said.
However, recently, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis informed the state assembly that Suryavanshi had told a magistrate that he was not tortured. Besides, CCTV footage does not provide any proof of brutality. A judicial probe into the Parbhani violence has already been announced by Fadnavis.
BJP slams Rahul’s move
Hitting out at Rahul Gandhi’s proposed visit to Parbhani, the state BJP called it ‘drama’. Talking to reporters, State BJP chief and revenue minister Chandrashekar Bawankule said, “Rather than doing such a drama, the focus should be on how the society can be benefited through constructive means. The BJP and the state government are committed to keeping the society and all communities united.”
Taking a swipe at Rahul Gandhi, Shiv Sena leader Shaina NC dubbed it as “hypocrisy”, and pointed out that the Congress leader never showed any concern over the scuffle that occurred in Parliament. “Rahul Gandhi is coming to Parbhani by a special flight. He will come to Nanded, go to Parbhani and show his solidarity with Somnath Suryavanshi’s family.”
Shaina NC was quoted as saying by ANI, “My question is, when Rahul Gandhi sees such a scuffle outside the House, he does not even come out and is coming here with a special charter? People understand this hypocrisy. We are fully with Parbhani’s Somnath Suryavanshi and his family, although we will never do any politics in this matter.”
