As Rahul Gandhi plans to visit Parbhani, BJP, Sena leaders call it ‘drama’

Rahul Gandhi's visit to Parbhani criticized by BJP and Shiv Sena leaders as "drama" and "hypocrisy" amid recent violence.

A day after the announcement of Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi’s Monday (December 23, 2024) visit to Parbhani, BJP and Shiv Sena leaders termed the Congress’s actions as “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.

Taking a dig at Mr. Gandhi, Shiv Sena leader Shaina N.C. said, “Rahul Gandhi is travelling 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 set to arrive in Nanded on Monday afternoon. He will meet Somanth’s family and then visit Vijay Dashrath Wakode’s home. He will return to Delhi the same evening. His schedule was shared by Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar.

Mr. Gandhi will be accompanied by prominent Congress leaders 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 violence in Parbhani was triggered by the alleged desecration of a Constitution replica near Babasaheb Ambedkar’s statue on December 10. The violence saw a mob of 200-300 people vandalising property and government offices, causing losses amounting to ₹1.89 crore. The police arrested 43 individuals for arson and filed charges against a total of 51 people.