Even as the mass exodus of north Indian workers staying in Gujarat continued on Monday following widespread violence in the state, Chief Minister Vijay Rupani issued a stern warning against those taking law into their hands.
Rupani said that not a single case of attack on north Indians has been reported in the last 48 hours.
The attacks were the fallout of an incident in which a 14-month-old toddler from north Gujarat was allegedly raped by a north Indian migrant worker. The accused has been arrested.
Despite assurance by the chief minister and strict vigil by the police, the exodus has continued, mainly from north Gujarat and industrial hubs in and around Ahmedabad. The police have mediated talks between workers and employers of several car manufacturing units in north Gujarat.
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Meanwhile, Congress president Rahul Gandhi tweeted that the root causes of the violence in Gujarat are closed factories and unemployment. He also condemned the attacks on north Indians.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, who spoke to Rupani, expressed satisfaction over the manner in which the matter has been handled. Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar also called Rupani and expressed concern over the attacks on north Indians. Nitish said the attacks were not justified. He, however, demanded strictest punishment for the rape accused.
So far 57 cases have been registered and 431 persons arrested. Most number of cases were registered in Mehsana, 17.
Meanwhile, the attack on north Indians that came ahead of Navaratri, didn't stop politicos in the state from engaging in a blame game over the issue. Without naming opposition Congress, Home Minister Pradeepsinh Jadeja alleged that those who have been rejected by the electorate can go to any extent (to cash in on the issue).
On the other hand, opposition leader in the state assembly, Paresh Dhanani, came out in support of Congress MLA from Radhanpur, Alpesh Thakore, and alleged that the ruling BJP was unnecessarily targeting the Thakore community. Alpesh, who heads the Thakore Sena, had alleged that people of his community were wrongly arrested. He has threatened to launch a “non-violent” agitation if people from his community were not released by the police.
On Monday, shop keepers and business establishments in various parts of Ahmedabad, where there is a sizeable population of Thakores, were asked to down shutters till late afternoon. The Thakore Sena, however, clarified that it had not given any bandh call and appealed for peace.
