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2018 attacks on Hindi-speaking migrants in Gujarat

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2018 attacks on Hindi-speaking migrants in Gujarat
Date28 September – 8 October 2018 (2018-09-28 – 2018-10-08)
LocationSeveral districts in Gujarat, India
CauseRape incident, unemployment
TargetHindi-speaking migrants from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Madhya Pradesh
OutcomeExodus of migrants from Gujarat
Arrests431

In October 2018, there were incidents of attacks on Hindi-speaking migrants; from the Indian states of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Madhya Pradesh; in Gujarat after the alleged rape of a 14-month-old in a village near Himmatnagar in north Gujarat. The attacks triggered the exodus of the migrants.

Background

The 14-months old girl from a Thakor community was allegedly raped by a migrant labourer from Bihar on 28 September 2018.[1][2] He worked at the ceramic factory at Dhundhar village near Himmatnagar, Sabarkantha district in north Gujarat where the incident took place.[1][3] He was arrested by the police next day. It angered the Thakor community which held protests across Gujarat.[1][3]

Attacks and exodus

On 2 October, a mob, allegedly led by Kshatriya Thakor Sena members, attacked on the migrant workers in a factory near Vadnagar in Mehsana district.[4] The police had arrested the twenty people for rioting.[5] The next day, Alpesh Thakor, a leader of Koli[6] Thakor Sena and Indian National Congress MLA; had announced the fast from 8 October to seek justice of the rape survivor.[7][5] He had reportedly demanded the preference to the local people in jobs in industries in the state while addressing the protest.[8][5] He had also accused the government of filing false cases against the members of his community and demanded their release.[5][9]

On 3 October, there was an attack in Chandlodiya, Ahmedabad.[1] There were further incidents of attacks on the migrant labourers and the factories employing them by the Thakor community and others. By 7 October, the six districts were affected including Sabarkantha, Mehsana, Gandhinagar, Patan, Banaskantha, Aravalli and Ahmedabad district. The first two districts were the worst affected.[1][3] The attacks were chiefly in industrial estates and industrial belts.[10] On 8 October, there were attacks in villages near Vadodara also.[11] No incidents of attack reported after 9 October.[12]

The attacks triggered exodus of the more than thousand labourers from Gujarat to their native states.[1][2][13] The Director General of Police denied the exodus and attributed the leaving migrants to the upcoming festive season.[13][14] Uttar Bharatiya Vikas Parishad, an outfit supporting north Indian migrants, claimed that around 20,000 people had left Gujarat by 8 October.[15]

Government action

By 8 October, total 55 FIRs were lodged and 431 people were arrested.[16] Ten people were arrested for spreading rumours and hatred on social media.[17][12] The government of Gujarat provided security to more than hundred factories.[1] Apart from State Police, seventeen companies of State Reserve Police (SRP) were deployed in the affected districts.[9]

The Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) urged the government to restore the peace as the industries were affected.[15]

Political reactions

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Indian National Congress (INC), two major political parties in Gujarat assembly, appealed for peace and harmony.[2] The opposition INC state chief Amit Chavda reasoned the rising unemployment in youth behind the anger and criticised the attackers.[2] INC President Rahul Gandhi called the attacks "completely wrong" and attributed it to unemployment and shutdown of the factories.[18][19]

BJP blamed Alpesh Thakor and his outfit for the violence.[20] Alpesh Thakor denied his involvement and appealed for peace to his community. He kept "goodwill" fast in Ahmedabad for a day on 11 October.[4][20] The Government of Gujarat appealed to the migrants to return.[16][21]

"When Thakor was in Congress, BJP opposed his action against the North Indians. If he joins the BJP and dons saffron stole, will his sins be washed away? We have not forgotten the wounds inflicted by Thakor and his aides on us. Many BJP leaders are keen to see Alpesh in BJP. I think BJP is waiting for LS elections to get over before inducting Alpesh so that its North Indian votes remain intact. My contention is simple: If Alpesh can spread so much fear being a Congress MLA, imagine what he can do after joining the BJP which is in power in Gujarat and Centre. If BJP gives him entry, it will lose our support. We will protest in Gujarat and North India to stop him from entering BJP."

— Shyamsingh Thakur, president of Uttar Bhartiya Vikas Parisha told Ahmedabad Mirror, when rumours of Thakor joining BJP grew in early 2019. [22]


In July 2019, after Lok Sabha Elections, Alpesh Thakor joined BJP after quitting INC.[23] Legitimate questions regarding his involvement in violence would disappear slowly.

Yogi Adityanath and Nitish Kumar, the chief ministers of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar respectively, spoke with Vijay Rupani, Gujarat Chief Minister for their concerns.[16] Tejashwi Yadav, a leader of Rashtriya Janata Dal, a opposition political party from Bihar; criticised the Central Government led by BJP leader Narendra Modi who belongs to Gujarat, alleging that BJP/RSS had "turned Gujrat into a nursery of hatred & violence against poor, dalits & minorities." [1]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Sharon, Meghdoot (2018-10-07). "UP, Bihar Migrants Flee Gujarat After 'Rape Backlash' Triggers Attacks; 342 Arrested". News18. Retrieved 2018-10-08.
  2. ^ a b c d "Gujarat rape backlash: Fearing for lives after mob attacks, UP, MP and Bihar migrants flee". The Indian Express. 2018-10-07. Retrieved 2018-10-08.
  3. ^ a b c "Violence intensifies in Gujarat, migrants flee for lives". The Times of India. 2018-10-06. Retrieved 2018-10-08.
  4. ^ a b "Gujarat toddler rape: All Indians safe in state, says Congress MLA Alpesh Thakor following reports of mob attack". Zee News. 2018-10-07. Retrieved 2018-10-08.
  5. ^ a b c d "Alpesh Thakor To Sit On Fast Over Rape Of 14-Month-Old Girl In Gujarat". NDTV.com. 2018-10-04. Retrieved 2018-10-08.
  6. ^ Lobo, Lancy (1995). The Thakors of North Gujarat: A Caste in the Village and the Region. Hindustan Publishing Corporation. ISBN 978-81-7075-035-2.
  7. ^ "Congress MLA Alpesh Thakor denies involvement in violence over Sabarkantha rape". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 2018-10-08.
  8. ^ "342 arrested for attacks on non-Gujaratis, security beefed up". Moneycontrol. Retrieved 2018-10-08.
  9. ^ a b "Gujarat: 342 arrested for attacking migrants from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar after 14-month-old girl's rape in Sabarkantha". Free Press Journal. 2018-10-08. Retrieved 2018-10-08.
  10. ^ "'50,000 labourers have left Gujarat already'". Ahmedabad Mirror. Retrieved 2018-10-08.
  11. ^ "Gujarat rape: 15 migrant workers attacked in Vadodara". The Indian Express. 2018-10-08. Retrieved 2018-10-08.
  12. ^ a b "North Indian migrant workers exodus abating in Gujarat; 10 held for hate messages". The Hindu. Special Correspondent. 2018-10-10. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2018-10-14.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  13. ^ a b "Gujarat DGP denies exodus due to fear, says migrants leaving due to festival season". The Financial Express. 2018-10-08. Retrieved 2018-10-08.
  14. ^ Dave, Hiral (2018-10-07). "Gujarat remains on edge as migrants face backlash". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 2018-10-08.
  15. ^ a b "Gujarat migrant attacks: Ahmed Patel defends Alpesh Thakor, targets BJP govt". The Times of India. Retrieved 2018-10-09.
  16. ^ a b c "Gujarat government appeals to migrants to return, says 431 arrested for attacks on them". The Times of India. Retrieved 2018-10-09.
  17. ^ "Why Gujarat has turned against migrants from UP, Bihar: What we know so far". India Today. Retrieved 2018-10-08.
  18. ^ "Targeting Migrant Workers In Gujarat "Completely Wrong": Rahul Gandhi". NDTV.com. Retrieved 2018-10-09.
  19. ^ "Factory shutdowns root of violence against migrant workers in Gujarat: Rahul Gandhi". India Today. Retrieved 2018-10-09.
  20. ^ a b "Alpesh Thakor Ends 'Goodwill' Fast, Says He Is Not 'Spreading Hatred'". NDTV.com. Retrieved 2018-10-14.
  21. ^ "Gujarat deputy CM Nitin Patel: Migrants who fled have started returning". The Indian Express. 2018-10-14. Retrieved 2018-10-14.
  22. ^ https://ahmedabadmirror.indiatimes.com/loksabha-elections/north-indians-up-ante-against-alpesh-thakor-urge-bjp-to-shun-him/articleshow/68840749.cms
  23. ^ https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/national/former-congress-leader-alpesh-thakor-joins-bjp/article28561437.ece
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