Even as violence against migrant workers from Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh continued in parts of Gujarat, Chief Minister Vijay Rupani on Monday assured them that they would be protected by the police.
Since the attacks broke out in six districts in north Gujarat following the rape of a toddler allegedly by a migrant worker, more than 20,000 migrant workers have fled the State, affecting industries where they constitute a large chunk of the labour force.
The police have arrested 431 persons and lodged 56 cases after over 100 incidents of assaults or attacks on Hindi-speaking workers in Mehsana, parts of Ahmedabad, Sabarkantha, Banaskantha and Patan. Police have also arrested 15 persons for spreading hate messages against migrants on social media platforms.
Mr. Rupani told media persons that the situation was under control and the police would continue to provide security to migrants. “We are committed to maintaining law and order, and people can call police in case of trouble. We will provide them security,” he said in Rajkot.
In Gandhinagar, junior Home Minister Pradeepsinh Bhagwatsinh Jadeja held a meeting with top officials. and later told media persons that the Centre was apprised of all steps taken by the administration to ensure safety of migrant workers.
“I also appeal to people not to be misled by those who are inciting them for political gains,” Mr Jadeja said, adding that additional forces have been deployed in industrial areas for the security of migrants.
Meanwhile, industries associations in Gujarat have asked authorities to ensure safety of workers as the exodus has begun to affect production. In Mehsana, Himatnagar and Sanand industrial estates, officials said several thousand migrant workers have returned home.
The BJP and Congress have blamed each other for the violence following the the rape of the infant. BJP leaders and ministers have blamed Congress legislator Alpesh Thakur and his Gujarat Kshatriya Thakor Sena for starting the agitation against migrants.
However, on September 24, before the rape incident, Chief Minister Rupani had said that the state would bring a new law to make it mandatory for industries to hire 80 % locals.
Going local
“Those who set up industry in Gujarat, including the service sector, will have to ensure that 80% of the jobs are given to local Gujaratis. The State government is in the process of making such a law,” Mr Rupani had said in Gandhinagar.
