CM dials Rupani, raises concern
Asks everyone to cooperate with Gujarat government
LUCKNOW: Chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday spoke to his Gujarat counterpart Vijay Rupani about the reports of violence against north Indians in the western state.
An official press release said Rupani informed Yogi that no such incident had taken place in Gujarat in the past three days. Rupani also said the Gujarat government had assured security of every individual and respected everybody in the state.
Adityanath said Gujarat was a peaceful state and remained a model for development in India. He said those opposed to development were trying to spoil the cordial atmosphere in society there. The Uttar Pradesh chief minister urged the people to have complete faith in the local administration there. Yogi appreciated the Gujarat chief minister’s efforts and said the people should extend their cooperation to the administration of Gujarat.
“The Gujarat chief minister told me over the phone there was no incident in the past three days and that he had appealed to people against paying heed to any rumour,” a news agency quoted Adityanath as saying.
““Some north Indians living in Gujarat had called me and I told them also, not to pay heed to the rumours, and on keeping the local administration and government in confidence,” Adityanath said.
Non-Gujaratis, especially those hailing from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, were reportedly tar- geted in several parts of the state following the arrest of a Bihar native for allegedly raping a 14-month-old girl in Sabarkantha district last week.
The attacks took place after hate messages against non-Gujaratis, particularly those from Bihar and UP, were circulated on the social media, according to officials.
On September 28, a 14-monthold girl was allegedly raped in a village near Himmatnagar town of Sabarkantha district, around 100 km from Ahmedabad.
Police have arrested Ravindra Sahu, a labourer hailing from Bihar and working in a local ceramic factory, for the crime.
Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar also said on Monday that he spoke to Rupani and expressed concern over the attacks on non-Gujaratis.
According to reports, many workers belonging to Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and other states were forced to board home-bound trains.
Additional forces have deployed in industrial areas in Gujarat for the security of Hindispeaking migrants after attacks on them sparked an exodus.
NONGUJARATIS, ESPECIALLY THOSE HAILING FROM UTTAR PRADESH AND BIHAR, WERE REPORTEDLY TARGETED IN SEVERAL PARTS