Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday visited the family of Somanth Suryavanshi, who died while in police custody in Maharashtra’s Parbhani city, and accused Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis of trying to shield police personnel involved in the case, drawing a strong response from the BJP leader.
“Rahul Gandhi’s visit to Parbhani was politically motivated. His sole objective is to spread division among people and different castes. He has been consistently doing this for years. I think he has completed his job of spreading hatred in Parbhani,” Fadnavis told reporters in Pune.
After meeting Suryavanshi’s family in Parbhani, Gandhi said, “Suryavanshi’s death is cent per cent custodial death. He has been murdered by police personnel. The chief minister has lied in the State Assembly to send a ‘message’ to the police. The youth was killed because he was a Dalit and was trying to protect the Constitution.”
Gandhi added that his visit was about securing justice for Suryavanshi’s family.
Suryavanshi was among over 50 people arrested in connection with the violence that erupted after a glass-enclosed replica of the Constitution near B R Ambedkar’s statue outside the Parbhani railway station was vandalised on December 10.
Fadnavis said his government is sensitive to the issue and has ordered a judicial investigation into the matter. “In the judicial probe, all facts and truths will come out. There is no reason for us to hide anything. If anyone is found guilty, we will take strict action against them,” he said.
The chief minister also said that NCP leader Sharad Pawar had contacted him regarding two incidents in Parbhani and Beed. “I have told him that I am looking into both the incidents,” he said.
Fadnavis further said the central government has sanctioned nearly 20 lakh houses under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) for the state.
“For this year, the Centre had sanctioned six lakh houses for Maharashtra. This target has now been increased to 13 lakh more houses. This is the biggest gift given by the Modi government to Maharashtra. In the country’s history, no other state has received sanction for such a large number of houses in one year under the PMAY. With the sanction of 20 lakh houses, Maharashtra will see a reduction in the number of homeless people,” he said.
Fadnavis also said the central government has relaxed the norms for the PMAY. “Those who missed out on earlier surveys, like farmers and labourers, will be included in the new survey,” he added.
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