"Govt-sponsored incident, will bring privilege motion against Maharashtra CM": Nana Patole on Parbhani violence

"It was a government-sponsored incident, and they (the government) lied in the Assembly to protect themselves. After coming here, we uncovered the truth. Today, we will move a privilege motion against the Maharashtra CM in the Assembly," Patole told ANI.

Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, Maharashtra Congress President Nana Patole, and other Congress leaders visited violence-hit Parbhani and paid homage to the victims.

The Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition, Rahul Gandhi, alleged during his visit that a victim was "murdered" because he was a Dalit and was "protecting" the Constitution.

"I have met the family and those who were killed and beaten up. They showed me the post-mortem report, videos, and photographs. This is 100 per cent a custodial death. He was murdered, and the Chief Minister lied in the Assembly to send a message to the police. This young man was killed because he was a Dalit and was protecting the Constitution," Gandhi told reporters.

Rahul Gandhi accused the RSS ideology of aiming to "destroy" the Constitution and demanded immediate resolution of the matter.

"We want this issue resolved immediately, and those responsible should be punished. No politics is being played here. The ideology is responsible because the Chief Minister made this statement. The Chief Minister is accountable, those who killed him are accountable, and swift action is needed," he added.

Violence erupted in Parbhani on December 10 following the alleged vandalism of a replica of the Indian Constitution. Special Inspector General of Nanded, Shahaji Umap, previously confirmed that around 50 people had been arrested and eight cases registered in connection with the violence.

The family of the deceased, Somnath Suryawanshi, has demanded the death penalty for the police officer under whose custody Suryawanshi died. (ANI)