PATNA: Chief minister
Nitish Kumar on Sunday evening spoke with his
Gujarat counterpart
Vijay Rupani and expressed his government’s concern over attacks on north Indians, including migrant workers from
Bihar, in the western state.
Condemning the alleged rape of a 14-month-old that triggered the violent attacks, Nitish said on Monday the accused should be punished, but all other people from Bihar living in Gujarat should not be branded criminals. “Other people should not be harassed at any cost,” he told newsmen.
Nitish said Bihar government officials were in touch with their counterparts in Gujarat. “We are keeping a watch on the development... I spoke with the Gujarat CM on Sunday evening. Our chief secretary and DGP are also in regular touch with their counterparts in Gujarat,” he said and added the Gujarat government was also “alert”.
Reports say north Indian migrant workers in Gujarat, especially those from Bihar and UP, are being thrashed by locals following the alleged rape of a girl by a Bihari
migrant worker in Sabarkantha district on September 28.
The Gujarat police have arrested over 400 people from various parts of the state in connection with the attacks.
Meanwhile, Bihar’s ruling JD (U), in an open letter to Congress president Rahul Gandhi, has blamed his party for the violent attacks on the migrant workers of Bihar in BJP-ruled Gujarat.
“You appointed your Gujarat MLA Alpesh Thakor as one of the national secretaries in-charge of party’s Bihar affairs and his outfit — Gujarat Kshatriya Thakor Sena — is involved in thrashing and driving out migrant Bihari workers from Gujarat,” JD (U) spokesperson and party MLC Neeraj Kumar said in the open letter which was released to the media on Monday.