Maha youth killed for being Dalit: Rahul

Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Monday met the family of Somnath Suryawanshi, who allegedly died in judicial custody after violence in Parbhani, Maharashtra, earlier this month.

Talking to mediapersons later, the Congress leader hit out at Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and the RSS. He alleged that the man was killed because he was a Dalit and was fighting to protecting the Constitution.

“I met Suryawanshi’s family and those who were assaulted. I was shown the postmortem report, photographs and videos. This is a custodial death. The police killed him. The Chief Minister lied in the Assembly that Suryavanshi had told a magistrate that he was not tortured. The youth was killed because he was a Dalit and was protecting the Constitution. The RSS wants to finish the Constitution. We want this matter to be probed and those guilty to be punished,” Rahul said after meeting the family.

Responding to Rahul’s allegations, Fadnavis said the Congress leader had visited Parbhani “for his political motive”.

“We have ordered a judicial probe. Truth will come out. If the probe finds that Suryavanshi died because he was beaten up, there will be stern action against those who are guilty,” he said.

Maharashtra BJP president Chandrashekar Bawankule dismissed Rahul Gandhi’s visit as “drama” and urged him to focus on benefiting society through constructive efforts.

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

Somnath Suryawanshi, a resident of Shankar Nagar in Parbhani, was arrested in connection with the violence. He died on December 15 while in judicial custody.