Upping the ante against the Eknath Shinde-led state government, Maharashtra Congress on Wednesday demanded a special two-day Assembly session to discuss the killings of 14 people who died of heatstroke at the Maharashtra Bhushan Award ceremony.

In a letter to Governor Ramesh Bais, Maharashtra Congress chief Nana Patole said: “The mismanagement on part of the government has led to the death of 14 people who had come for the Maharashtra Bhushan award ceremony. Considering the latest details that have emerged, the question has arisen whether these deaths were due to heat stroke or stampede. This is an instance of culpable homicide and the Shinde government is hiding the truth in this incident.”