Guj, Bihar CMs appeal for calm, extra forces out
The issue of attacks on migrant labourers in parts of Gujarat took a political turn on Monday with the opposition Congress accusing the ruling BJP government of supporting the attackers.
Amid reports of migrant workers from Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Bihar continuing to flee to their native places, the administration launched confidence-building measures. Flag marches by police and community meetings in affected pockets of Ahmedabad city and parts of Gandhinagar.
THE CHIEF MINISTERS OF UP AND BIHAR, YOGI ADITYANATH AND NITISH KUMAR, AND UNION MINISTER RAM VILAS PASWAN SPOKE TO GUJARAT CM RUPANI TO VOICE THEIR CONCERNS
The issue of attacks on migrant labourers in parts of Gujarat took a political turn on Monday with the opposition Congress accusing the ruling BJP government of supporting the attackers.
Amid reports of migrant workers from Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Bihar continuing to flee to their native places, the administration launched confidence-building measures. Flag marches by police and community meetings in affected pockets of Ahmedabad city and parts of Gandhinagar, Mehsana and Sabarkantha districts in north Gujarat were also organised.
Government officials said the police have been told to hold mohalla meetings and the district collectors instructed to involving locals in the confidence-building measures. They have also been instructed to take action against those giving threats or spreading rumours against the migrant labourers, the officials said.
The attacks and threats against “outsiders”, which left 45 persons injured between September 28 and October 3, started following the rape of a 14-month-old girl allegedly by a migrant worker last month. One Raghuvir Sahu (19) from Bihar, a worker at a ceramic factory, was arrested for the crime in Himmatnagar on September 28.
Assuring security to the migrants, the Gujarat government said 431 people were arrested and 56 FIRs registered in connection with the attacks, as chief minister Vijay Rupani appealed to people not to engage in violence. Claiming that no untoward incident had taken place during the last 48 hours, Rupani said the situation has been brought under control by police. “We are committed to maintaining law and order, and people can call police in case of trouble. We will provide them security.” he told reporters in Rajkot.Chief ministers of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar –Yogi Adityanath and Nitish Kumar – and Union minister and BJP ally Ram Vilas Paswan, who hails from Bihar, spoke to Rupani to voice their concern. But the Congress blamed the government for the violence. “Attacks on migrants continued despite security cover and police bandobast. This means attackers enjoy silent blessings of the government,” said Congress state chief Amit Chavda.