Congress Calls for Suspension of Police Chief Amidst Parbhani Violence Against Dalits

Mumbai, Dec 12 (NationPress) As a fragile peace settled over the violence-stricken town of Parbhani, the Maharashtra Congress demanded an end to police atrocities against the Dalit community and called for the immediate suspension of Superintendent of Police Ravindrasingh Pardeshi on Thursday.

In response to the desecration of a statue of B. R. Ambedkar near the Parbhani railway station on Tuesday, state Congress President Nana Patole condemned the act as a serious affront to the chief architect of the Indian Constitution, who is honored by millions.

"Such acts of disrespect towards Ambedkar have no place in the land of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Chhatrapati Rajarshi Shahu Maharaj, Jyotirao Phule, and other esteemed icons. It is a matter of shame for the entire state. We demand that SP Ravindrasingh Pardeshi be suspended, and that the government promptly identify those responsible and ensure they face strict punishment," stated Patole.

Both Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) and Jamaat-e-Islami Hind (JIH) have also denounced the violence occurring in Parbhani and called for an end to the targeting of the local Dalit community.

VBA President Prakash Ambedkar communicated with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Nanded Range Special IGP Shahaji Umap, urging them to halt the arrests of Dalits and the combing operations in Dalit neighborhoods of Parbhani.

He warned that if the ongoing police actions against the community did not cease by Friday noon, the VBA would initiate a protest while encouraging Dalits to demonstrate peacefully.

Referring to the desecration of Ambedkar's statue as a 'provocative act', JIH President Maulana Ilyas Khan Falahi stated that the actions of the perpetrators indicated a blatant disregard for the Constitution and an assumption that they could act without fear of legal consequences.

Parbhani Collector Raghunath K. Gawade informed journalists on Thursday that the police are exercising restraint and that "no one uninvolved in yesterday's clashes is being detained or arrested."

Patole pointed out that while Parbhani was in turmoil, Chief Minister Fadnavis along with the two Deputy CMs, Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar, were preoccupied with the allocation of key ministries, showing no concern for the welfare of the people.

"The presence of those in power who show no respect for the Constitution leads to such incidents. The police have imposed a curfew, suspended Internet access, and public transportation, deployed tear gas, and baton-charged the Dalits. This clearly demonstrates that the district administration and police failed to manage the situation appropriately," he added.

Meanwhile, the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) coalition—including Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT), and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP)—along with other political parties, is preparing to address the issue during the upcoming Winter Session of the Maharashtra Assembly in Nagpur on December 16.

At least 40 individuals have been arrested by the Parbhani police following the recent unrest, which included violence, stone-pelting, arson, and damage to numerous private and public vehicles, among other properties over the last few days.