He will be accompanied by key Congress leaders...
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi announced in Lok Sabha on Monday to visit Parbhani, BJP and Shiv Sena leaders called the Congress actions "drama" and "hypocrisy".
Mr. Gandhi is scheduled to meet the kin of two persons who died in the recent violence that broke out in the region and offer his condolence.
Shiv Sena leader Shaina N.C. said, “Rahul Gandhi is traveling on a special flight to project that he is with Somnath Suryavanshi’s family is hypocrisy. Why does he not raise concern or come out with support when he sees a scuffle outside the Parliament House… The hypocrisy of Rahul Gandhi is quite visible. We are with Somnath Suryavanshi’s family with all our support and unlike Rahul Gandhi, we are not playing politics in this.”
State BJP chief and Revenue Minister Chandrashekar Bawankule used the term “drama” to describe Mr. Gandhi’s visit. “Rahul Gandhi has been performing drama for his entire life. He has no respect for the Constitution. Congress has a record of going against the Balasaheb’s Constitution numerous times. It is their politics of eyewash. Every time Balasaheb tried to contest for the parliament through election, it was the Congress that made sure he could not. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has already taken action on the matter; action has been taken against the accused and police officials. The sole reason for Mr. Gandhi’s visit is to make the vote bank for himself even when Maharashtra rejected him in the recent election. With such politics, the Congress would not find its feet in the State,” he told reporters.
Mr.Gandhi is scheduled to reach Nanded on Monday afternoon. He will meet Somnath’s family before visiting the home of Vijay Dashrath Wakode. He is expected to return to Delhi the same evening. Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar shared the details of his itinerary.
Mr. Gandhi will be accompanied by key Congress leaders, including Maharashtra in-charge Ramesh Chennithala, State President Nana Patole, senior leader and former minister Balasaheb Thorat, MLA Vijay Wadettiwar, MLA Amit Deshmukh, MP Ravindra Chavan, MP Kalyan Kale, Shivaji Kalge, State Vice President (Organisation and Administration) Nana Gawande, Chief Spokesperson Atul Londhe, Parbhani District Congress Committee President Suresh Warapudkar, and State President of the SC Department Siddharth Hattiambire, among others.
The unrest in Parbhani was sparked by the alleged desecration of a constitution replica near Babasaheb Ambedkar’s statue on December 10. The incident led to a mob of 200-300 people damaging property and government offices, resulting in losses estimated at Rs.1.89 crore. Police have arrested 43 individuals for arson and have filed charges against 51 people in total.
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