Maharashtra: Opposition Protests In Winter Session Over Alleged Police Atrocities In Beed & Parbhani; Plans To Visit Affected Areas

Opposition members staged protests and raised slogans against the government on issues such as alleged police atrocities in Beed and Parbhani, on the second day of the Winter Session of the assembly on Tuesday, and announced plans to visit the two cities.

As proceedings began, the parties raised an adjournment motion on Beed and Parbhani.

The opposition had sought an immediate discussion on the custodial death of Somnath Surevanshi in Parbhani and the alleged murder of sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh in Beed, accusing the government of gross human rights violations and police brutality.

Congress leader Nana Patole said: “The death of Somnath Surevanshi, a young man with Ambedkarite ideals, was due to police assault. There should be a discussion in the House on whether the combing operation conducted by the police in Parbhani was government-directed or not, along with this issue.”

“The government has not only ignored the victims but also protected the perpetrators. By failing to hold officials accountable, it is clear that the government is complicit in these crimes,” he said.

Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar asked if the criminal who assaulted Deshmukh was being protected because of his perceived closeness to a minister.

Wadettiwar also criticised Speaker Rahul Narwekar for stifling the opposition’s voice. “Despite our repeated calls for a discussion, the speaker refused to let us speak. This is a clear attempt to silence any form of dissent and prevent accountability for the government's failures,” he said.

Narwekar, however, dismissed the adjournment motion, and as a result the opposition staged a walkout from the assembly for the entire day.

The opposition leaders later announced plans to visit Parbhani and Beed to assess the situation. “We will go to the affected areas, meet the families, and expose the government's inaction. This is a fight for justice, and we will continue to press until the guilty are held accountable,” Patole said.