Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi met the family of Somnath Suryavanshi, who died in judicial custody following violence in Maharashtra’s Parbhani city, on December 23, 2024. Photo: X/@INCIndia
Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Monday (December 23, 2024) asserted that Somnath Suryavanshi, who allegedly died in police custody following violence in Maharashtra’s Parbhani city, was “killed” because he was a Dalit and was protecting the Constitution.
“Police killed Somnath Suryavanshi. This is a custodial death. He was killed for being a Dalit who was protecting the Constitution,” Mr. Gandhi said after meeting the family of the Ambedkarite on Monday (Dec. 23).
“I have met the family and those who have been killed and beaten up in Parbhani. The family showed me the post-mortem report, videos and photographs. This is cent per cent a custodial death and there is no doubt in it,” he added.
He further demanded punishment for those involved in the crime. “We want this matter to be resolved immediately and those who have committed this crime, they should be punished. I am not at all satisfied with the probe,” he said.
“This is not at all political. This is a clean murder and justice should be given. The ideology of the RSS is to destroy the Constitution. The ideology is responsible, because the Chief Minister has made this statement so the Chief Minister is responsible,” he added.
Parbhani witnessed violence after a glass-enclosed replica of the Constitution near Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar’s statue outside the railway station in the city, located in Marathwada region, was vandalised on the evening of December 10.
Suryawanshi, a resident of Shankar Nagar in Parbhani, was among more than 50 persons arrested in connection with the violence.
He died on December 15 at a State-run hospital where he was rushed after complaining of chest pain and uneasiness while he was in judicial custody and lodged at the Parbhani district central prison, as per police.
Also read | 50 arrested over Parbhani violence, say Maharashtra police
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has ordered a judicial probe into the Parbhani violence.
Mr. Fadnavis said in the State Assembly recently that Suryavanshi had told a magistrate that he was not tortured and the CCTV footage also doesn’t show any evidence of brutality.
State BJP chief and revenue minister Chandrashekar Bawankule has termed Gandhi’s visit as a “drama”.
Published – December 23, 2024 04:05 pm IST