Rahul Gandhi to Visit Parbhani to Meet Families of Two Deceased in Recent Violence, BJP reacts

Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, will visit Parbhani in Maharashtra on Monday to meet the families of two individuals who tragically lost their lives following violent clashes earlier this month.
Rahul Gandhi's visit comes after unrest erupted in the region over the desecration of a glass-enclosed replica of the Constitution near Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar’s statue outside the city's railway station on December 10.
According to a schedule shared by Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar, Gandhi will meet the kin of Somnath Suryavanshi, who allegedly died in police custody, and Vijay Wakode, who passed away after participating in the protests.
The visits are part of his efforts to express solidarity with the grieving families and address the concerns surrounding the violence.
Details of the Visit
Gandhi is expected to arrive at Nanded by special flight at noon and then travel by road to Parbhani. He will first meet Somnath Suryavanshi's family from 2:15 PM to 3:15 PM, followed by a meeting with the family of Vijay Wakode.
Suryavanshi, a young man, allegedly died while in police custody after being detained during a police operation related to the unrest. The post-mortem report attributed his death to injuries sustained on December 15.
Vijay Wakode, an activist involved in the Ambedkarite movement, reportedly died from a heart attack while working to maintain peace amid the disturbances.
After the meetings, Gandhi will return to Nanded and board a flight to Delhi at 5:15 PM. He will be accompanied by senior Congress leaders, including AICC General Secretary in charge of Maharashtra Ramesh Chennithala, state president Nana Patole, former minister Balasaheb Thorat, and several MLAs and MPs.
BJP's Criticism of the Visit
The visit has drawn sharp criticism from the state BJP, with party members accusing Gandhi of politicizing the issue. BJP leader and state minister Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil stated, “The government has already taken necessary action, and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has given the required orders. There is no need to politicize the issue.”
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Fadnavis, in a recent statement in the Maharashtra Assembly, addressed concerns surrounding the death of Somnath Suryavanshi, asserting that the young man had told a magistrate that he was not tortured.
He further noted that CCTV footage from the incident did not show any evidence of police brutality.
Context of the Violence
The violence in Parbhani was triggered after a replica of the Indian Constitution was vandalized on the evening of December 10. The incident sparked widespread protests, leading to clashes between protesters and the police. In the aftermath, two individuals, Suryavanshi and Wakode, lost their lives, and tensions in the region escalated.
Rahul Gandhi’s visit aims to draw attention to the incident, offering support to the families of the deceased while also raising concerns about the handling of the unrest. The political implications of his visit are expected to unfold in the coming days as Maharashtra moves towards healing the divisions created by the violence.