Many workers from UP and Bihar have fled Gujarat fearing violence
Many workers from UP and Bihar have fled Gujarat fearing violence. This migrant crisis has left the industries worried.
Denouncing the alleged rape of a 14-month-old girl triggered the violent attacks in the districts of Mehsana and Himmatnagar.
Migrant crisis has disrupted the production in several manufacturing clusters in north Gujarat, particularly ahead of the festive season as thousands migrants from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar have fled the state following attacks by the locals.
Gujarat Police arrested 431 people in connection with the attacks on migrants from Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh in the state over the rape of a minor girl.
56 FIRs were also registered and Chief Minister Vijay Rupani appealed to people not to engage in violence.
As the report was being filed, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to the Gujarat home minister and asked the government to control the situation. Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar also said that his government was in touch with authorities in Gujarat over the crisis.
"Industries need workers and workers need industries. We need to establish normalcy as soon as possible. We have to remove the environment of fear and rebuild confidence," said Jaimin Vasa, president of Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Ajit Shah, president of Sanand Industries Association said, "We have managed to hold back the remaining workers. We are trying to assure them about their safety." Sanand is the emerging auto hub.
"We have orders till about four days ahead of Diwali. Workers go to their natives at that time, not a month in advance. If workers go now, the will return only after Diwali and it will hurt industries very hard," Ajit Shah further added.
The oppositions alleged that PM Modi and Shah have been silent on the attack on the Biharis in Gujarat and their consequent exodus from from there to Bihar.
