Migrant workers wait to board a train out of Gujarat in view of protests and violence breaking out over the alleged rape of a 14-month-old girl, in Ahmedabad. (PTI Photo/Santosh Hirlekar)
A huge political blame game has erupted between the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the main opposition party Congress even as thousands of migrants from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar continue to flee Gujarat in the wake of violence against them following rape of a 14-month-old girl.
While the BJP accused Congress MLA Alpesh Thakor of inciting violence against people of Hindi-speaking states, the Congress asked Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani and Prime Minister Narendra Modi to follow 'raj dharma' and bring the situation back to normal.
Congress spokesperson Manish Tewari also asked Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to apologise to the people of his state for showing insensitivity towards them by giving a "clean chit" and character certificate to the Rupani-led state government.
"This is not the time for indulging in petty politics and the state and central governments should follow 'Raj Dharma' as propagated by former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee to then chief minister Narendra Modi. We urge and demand that 'Raj Dharma' should be followed on this issue and petty politics should not be played," he told reporters.
'Alpesh Thakor's 'venomous' speech'
The BJP accused the Congress of instigating violence against migrants in Gujarat and demanded its president Rahul Gandhi expel his party's leader Alpesh Thakor for his "venomous" speeches to incite locals in attacking outsiders.
Congress leader Alpesh Thakor. (Photo/IndiaTV)
BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra claimed that out of the over 300 persons arrested by the Gujarat Police for allegedly targeting migrants more than 30 were Congress workers.
He alleged that the opposition party is conspiring to 'burn' the country for political gains ahead of elections.
"If Rahul Gandhi is really concerned about Bihar, Gujarat... Then we demand that he, the Congress immediately dismiss Alpesh Thakor from the party," Patra said.
Prompt action by the Gujarat government has controlled the situation, Patra claimed.
A video of Alpesh Thakor inciting locals against people of UP, Bihar had gone viral. However, the Congress leader had outrightly rejected the charges levelled against him.
WATCH: Migrants from UP, Bihar flee Gujarat; political blame game continues
(With inputs from agencies)
