Sanjay Nirupam slams BJP over attacks on non-Gujaratis
"North Indians are being targeted in prime minister’s Gujarat. But he must remember that one day he too will have to go to Varanasi to seek votes," said Congress leader Sanjay Nirupam, as he attacked the BJP government over attacks on non-Gujarati people in several parts of the state, following the alleged rape of a 14-month-old girl by a Bihar native in Sabarkantha.
The incident has forced more than 50,000 migrants from North India to flee the state amid the spate of violence.
The remarks by the Congress leader came in the backdrop of general elections next year, for which the prime minister is slated to visit Varanasi as he represents it in Lok Sabha.
Commenting on the incident, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Monday said he spoke to his Gujarat counterpart Vijay Rupani and expressed concern over attacks in the western state on non-Gujarati people, including those from Bihar.
Kumar further condemned the alleged rape of a 14-month-old girl and said guilty must be punished however, an entire community should not be "tarred with the same brush".
Talking to reporters in Patna, Kumar said, “our government is aware and alert. I spoke to the Gujarat chief minister Sunday. Our chief secretary and director general of police are also in touch with their counterparts in Gujarat.”
"If somebody has committed a crime, he must be punished severely. But on account of one incident, people should not generalise and hold a grouse against an entire state," he added.
Non-Gujaratis, especially those hailing from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, have been targeted by locals following the alleged rape of the girl by a native of Bihar, in Gujarat's Sabarkantha district on September 28.
Circulation of hate messages on social media further intensified the attacks and 342 people were arrested by the police from various parts of Gujarat.
A JD(U) leader meanwhile, wrote an open two-page letter to Congress president Rahul Gandhi, blaming the party for the violence against Biharis.
He also took potshots at the Congress alliance with the RJD, saying the Rashtriya Janata Dal is "headed by a convicted person (Lalu Prasad) whose son (Tejashwi Yadav) is also facing corruption charges".
Madhepura MP Rajesh Ranjan alias Pappu Yadav has asked Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi to intervene the attack and ensure such incidents are stopped.
