CM Rupani appeals for calm amid buzz that 20,000 migrants have fled Gujarat in a week

Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani Monday appealed to people not to engage in violence, even as an outfit claimed over 20,000 Hindi-speaking migrants fled the state in the last one week after a spate of attacks following a rape incident.

Rupani claimed that no untoward incident had taken place during the last 48 hours, while state Home Minister Pradeepsinh Jadeja said additional forces have been deployed in industrial areas for the security of migrants.

Since the alleged rape of a 14-month-old girl in Sabarkantha district on September 28, six districts, most of them in north Gujarat, have seen sporadic incidents of violence against Hindi-speaking people, police had said.

The government said more than 400 people have been arrested in connection with the violence which started after a migrant worker from Bihar was nabbed in the rape case.

Uttar Bharatiya Vikas Parishad president Maheshsingh Kushwah claimed that over 20,000 people belonging to Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Bihar had already fled Gujarat due to the prevailing situation.

“Over 20,000 migrants from these states have fled due to fear as Hindi-speaking people are being attacked in different parts of the state. All non-Gujaratis should not be seen as culprits for the misdeeds of one person,” he said.

Rupani said the situation has been brought under control by police.

“Due to intense efforts by police, the situation is under control and no untoward incident has happened in the last 48 hours.

“We are committed to maintaining law and order, and people can call police in case of trouble. We will provide them security,” Rupani said in Rajkot.

Meanwhile, ANI quoted Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar, who spoke with Rupani on Sunday, as saying: “The person, who committed the crime, should be punished, there should be strong actions taken against him. But, people should not have such notions about others.”

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