"Sensationalisation..." : BJP's Kirit Somaiya over Rahul Gandhi's Parbhani visit

Somaiya added that Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has already stated that an investigation is underway in the matter and action will be taken accordingly.

"The statement made by Rahul Gandhi in Parbhani yesterday. Sensationalisation and politicisation of such issues do not suit opposition parties. CM Fadnavis already said that an investigation is underway and action will be taken accordingly," Somaiya told ANI.

On Monday, Maharashtra Chief Minister Fadnavis targeted Rahul Gandhi, calling his visit to Parbhani "a political meeting" and an "attempt to create hatred among people on caste lines."

"Rahul Gandhi has come here only for political purposes, this was just a political meeting, an attempt to create hatred among people on caste lines, he has been doing this work for the last many years, so I think his work of spreading hatred, he has completed it today in Parbhani," he said.

Fadnavis informed that the state government have announced a judicial inquiry into Parbhani violence assuring that no one will be spared and the strictest action will be taken against the guilty.

"The government of Maharashtra is sensitive, so we have announced a judicial inquiry into this entire matter. All the truth will come out in the judicial inquiry. Nothing will be hidden, there is no reason for it and if it is revealed in that investigation that the death has happened due to assault or any other reason, then no one will be spared and the strictest action will be taken," he said.

Rahul Gandhi on Monday visited Maharashtra's violence-hit Parbhani and alleged that the victim was "murdered" because he was a Dalit and was "protecting" the Constitution.

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

The Lok Sabha LoP alleged that the ideology of the RSS is to "destroy" the Constitution, adding that the matter should be "resolved" immediately.

"We want this matter to be resolved immediately and those who have done this should be punished. No politics is being done... The ideology is responsible because the Chief Minister has made this statement so the Chief Minister is responsible, those who have killed him are responsible and action should be taken as soon as possible," he added.

Rahul Gandhi, Nana Patole and other Congress leaders visited Maharashtra's violence-hit Parbhani and paid homage.

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

The family members of deceased Somnath Suryawnashi have demanded a death sentence for the accused police officer under whose custody Suryawanshi died.

"The police didn't give any information regarding my brother after they arrested him. The day my brother died, on December 15, they only informed me that my brother had died due to a heart attack. Those involved in this incident must be punished. Suspending them is of no use. They should be punished because they have killed my brother. We want them to hang till death. We will say the same to Rahul Gandhi," Premnath Suryawanshi, brother of deceased Dalit activist," told ANI.

The official clarified that all arrests were made at the scene of the incident and reported that a deputy superintendent of police and nine other police personnel sustained minor injuries during the unrest. (ANI)