Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi on Monday alleged that Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had lied in the Legislative Assembly regarding the death of Dalit youth Somnath Suryawanshi in Parbhani and that the demise was a clear case of custodial death.
“I met the family members of the deceased and those who were beaten up. They showed me the post-mortem report, photos and videos. This is a clear case of custodial death. The police have killed him. The Chief Minister has given a false statement in the assembly to safeguard police,” said Rahul, after meeting the family of Suryawanshi in Parbhani along with the senior leadership of Maharashtra Congress. He was on a one-day visit to Maharashtra.
Rahul alleged that Suryawanshi was killed because he was a Dalit. “The young man was killed because he was a Dalit and he was trying to safeguard the constitution,” he said. Rahul added that he was not visiting Parbhani for the sake of doing politics but wanted to give justice to the family.
Suryawanshi, a student of law, died in police custody after violence broke out in Parbhani over the desecration of a statue of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar. Gandhi also visited the family of Dalit activist Vijay Wakode, who died while trying to maintain peace in Parbhani.
Rahul attacked CM Fadnavis saying that the CM too was responsible, as he was trying to shield the culprits.
In the legislative assembly, Fadnavis had rejected the accusation of custodial death. Fadnavis said that Suryawanshi was suffering from breathlessness and other ailments. “When he was presented before the magistrate, he (Suryavanshi) said that he did not face any police torture,” he said.
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