The exodus of north Indian migrant labourers from Gujarat is a cause of concern for the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party in the state. But the “model state” of the BJP and the home state of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP's president Amit Shah is fighting a battle on three fronts—migrants' exodus, lions' deaths and swine flu.
At a time when assembly elections to multiple states have been announced, the BJP cannot afford these issues going out of hand, thereby tarnishing its image.
Exodus of migrant workers:
Home Minister Pradeepsinh Jadeja on Tuesday claimed that 20 leaders of the opposition Congress and people associated with a social organisation were involved in the attacks on north Indian migrant labourers.
The National Human Rights Commission is understood to have sought a report from the Gujarat government.
Also read
- Gujarati couple renounces Rs 200 Cr wealth to embrace monkhood, to survive on alms
- Weeks after namaz row, Gujarat varsity asks 7 foreign students to vacate hostel for overstaying
- 'Nothing bigger than self-respect': BJP MLA resigns from Gujarat Assembly
- 18 Hindu refugees from Pakistan given Indian citizenship in Ahmedabad
The labourers from north India are being attacked after a 14-month-old toddler was raped in north Gujarat. The accused, a Bihar native working in a local ceramic factory, was arrested the same day.
The exodus, which continued even on Tuesday, worries the ruling BJP as the Vibrant Gujarat Summit is scheduled in January 2019. The attacks do not go with Gujarat's image of being an industrial-friendly and peaceful state.
Jadeja said that the government would announce the names of 20 leaders on Wednesday. While mentioning the social organisation, Jadeja was referring to Thakore Sena headed by Congress MLA from Radhanpur, Alpesh Thakore.
Thakore, on the other hand, threatened that if need be he would resign as MLA if it is established that people of his community are being targetted for wrong reasons.
The Gujarat Congress blamed the ruling party for “failing” to control the situation.
Police took rounds in the areas of Ahmedabad where there is a large number of Thakore population and that of north Indians.
So far 533 people have been arrested in connection with attacks on north Indian migrant labourers. Police have arrested 29 persons for allegedly spreading rumours on the social media.
Meanwhile, the RSS is reported to have decided to intervene in the matter. Sources said that RSS workers will persuade the north Indians not to leave the state.
Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel alleged that Congress was trying to tarnish Gujarat's image. He said that the Congress should take strict action against those involved in the attacks on north Indian migrant labourers. Patel expressed surprise that Congress president Rahul Gandhi uses social media sites to comment on the incidents at a time when some of his own partymen and those connected with the party are to be blamed.
Lions deaths:
Even as the lions in the Gir National Partk and Sanctuary area are being vaccinated against CDV, Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani has ruled out translocation of lions.
Forest Minister Ganpat Vasava also said categorically that there would be no translocation of lions to Kuno Palpur in Madhya Pradesh. He said no fresh death of lions has been reported.
For the last several years, experts have been advising to shift lions to a new home, in an attempt to save them from being hit by any epidemic.
Twenty-three lions have died in last one month in Gir. While a few have died of CDV and other viruses and, the rest have died over the issue of territorial rights, the government has claimed. The government is also trying to cover uncovered wells in the national park and sanctuary area.
The Gujarat Government had procured 300 vaccines from the US. Sources said that so far about 35 vaccines have been used.
Swine Flu:
Swine flu is another problem that the state government is faced with. The problem can become more severe as the nine-day long Navratri festival is beginning from Wednesday.
Beginning September this year, the state has witnessed a large number of H1N1 cases and the mortality rate has also been high.
With the beginning of Navratri, the state government is now geared up to educate garba organisers to put up banners of Do's and Don'ts to prevent the spread of swine flu. The authorities are also likely to ask them to keep hand sanitizers in the playing arenas.
Homeopathy and Ayurvedic treatments are also being recommended to people apart from the standard allopathy medicines.
