AHMEDABAD: After sporadic incidents of violence against non-Gujaratis, especially those hailing from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, triggered a mass exodus of labourers from Gujarat, Nitish Kumar and Yogi Adityanath on Monday spoke to Vijay Rupani to express their concerns about the attacks.

Hindi-speaking people were targeted in several parts of the state following the arrest of a Bihar native for allegedly raping a 14-month-old girl in Sabarkantha district last week.

Both Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh are being ruled by the Bharatiya Janata Party, while the party governs Bihar in alliance with Nitish Kumar's Janata Dal (United).

An outfit by the name of Uttar Bharatiya Vikas Parishad president claimed that over 20,000 people belonging to Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Bihar had already fled Gujarat due to the prevailing situation.

Fifty-six cases have been filed and 431 arrests made so far in connection with attacks on Non-Gujaratis, the police have said.

BJP blames Congress

Without naming opposition Congress, Minister of State for Home Jadeja said efforts were underway to find out whether "it is a conspiracy by those who are out of power in Gujarat since the last 22 years".

"The attack on migrant workers is highly condemnable. The chief minister has instructed us to take all necessary steps to stop the attacks.

"I also appeal people not to be misled by those who are inciting people for their political gains," Jadeja said.

A political dimension to the attacks was also injected with a leader of the JD(U), which is headed by Nitish Kumar, dashing off a two-page open letter to Congress president Rahul Gandhi, blaming his party for the violence against Biharis. He alleged that Congress MLA Alpesh Thakor, one of the AICC national secretaries and Congress in-charge of Bihar, is driving out migrant Biharis.

Not me but BJP: Alpesh Thakor

Rubbishing the allegations, Alpesh Thakor alleged that youth from the Thakor community were being falsely implicated. He said he never asked the Kshatriya Thakor Sena to engage in violence or attack non-Gujaratis.

“This is unfortunate, we have never advocated violence and only talked peace. All Indians are safe in Gujarat," Thakor said.

He said the BJP was orchestrating the violence in order to defame him.

Sanjay Nirupam's statement:

Congress leader Sanjay Nirupam warned that one day Prime Minister Modi also has to return to Banaras in Uttar Pradesh. He said: “North Indians are being targeted in Prime Minister’s Gujarat..Prime Minister must remember that one day you have to go to Banaras also. He said that next year the PM will have to make a trip to Banaras to seek votes.

The incident that triggered attacks on north Indians

On September 28, a 14-month-old girl was allegedly raped in a village near Himmatnagar town of Sabarkantha district, around 100 km from Ahmedabad. The victim belongs to the Thakor community.

One Ravindra Sahu, a labourer hailing from Bihar and working in a local ceramic factory, was arrested the same day for the toddler's rape, the police had said.

One of the persons who was apparently attacked claimed Friday some non-Gujaratis were going back to their native places.

After it came to light that the rape accused hailed from Bihar, the Kshatriya Thakor Sena said migrant workers from other states should not be given jobs in Gujarat.

A 200-strong mob, allegedly led by Thakor Sena members, stormed a factory near Vadnagar town of Mehsana district on October 2 and thrashed two employees.

(With inputs from agencies)