Rahul Gandhi's recent visit to Parbhani, Maharashtra, has sparked strong reactions from BJP leaders, including state minister and BJP chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule.
During his visit to the violence-hit region, Gandhi accused the Maharashtra government of failing to protect marginalised communities and criticised the handling of the recent unrest. However, Bawankule dismissed his visit, calling it "drama" to provoke societal divisions.
Bawankule accused Gandhi of making baseless remarks without understanding governance or law and order.
He stated that Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had already taken necessary measures regarding the incident and expressed that Gandhi's statements served no purpose other than to incite societal tensions. He further criticised the Congress leader for leaving the region after making what he referred to as "silly statements."
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis echoed these sentiments, labelling Gandhi’s visit as a politically motivated act to create division along caste lines. Fadnavis claimed that Gandhi had been engaging in such activities for years and accused him of attempting to spread hatred through his visit to Parbhani.
The chief minister reassured the public of the government's commitment to justice, announcing a judicial inquiry into the violence. He promised that the truth would emerge through the investigation and that the guilty would face strict action.
The violence in Parbhani erupted on December 10 following the alleged vandalism of a replica of the Indian Constitution.
Authorities have since arrested around 50 individuals and registered eight cases in connection with the unrest. Fadnavis emphasised that the inquiry would uncover the facts, ensuring transparency and accountability.
Meanwhile, Rahul Gandhi alleged that the violence and subsequent death of a young Dalit man were the result of systemic failures and caste-based discrimination.
He claimed that the victim had been killed in custody and accused the chief minister of misleading the public in the Assembly to protect those responsible. According to Gandhi, the young man was targeted for defending the Constitution, making his death not just a tragedy but a grave injustice.
The issue has further deepened political divides, with Gandhi presenting videos, photographs, and post-mortem reports as evidence of custodial death.
His visit to Parbhani, where he met with the victim's family and others affected by the violence, was aimed at highlighting what he described as deliberate targeting of Dalit communities.
As the inquiry progresses, the events in Parbhani remain a flashpoint for broader conversations on caste, governance, and justice in Maharashtra.
While the state government has pledged to ensure accountability, opposition leaders like Rahul Gandhi continue to challenge the narrative, questioning the administration's sincerity in addressing the root causes of such incidents.
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