The CPI (M) Wednesday hit out at the Gujarat government over the exodus of migrant workers, alleging it was allowing the situation to foment instead of containing it.
Sporadic incidents of violence broke out against Hindi-speaking people in six districts, most of them in north Gujarat, after a 14-month old was raped in Sabarkantha district on September 28 and the arrest of a labourer hailing from Bihar for the crime.
"This violence has led to an exodus of thousands of workers and their families fearing for their lives. The BJP government in Gujarat, instead of containing this violence, is allowing these tensions to foment", stated the central committee in its statement.
Blaming the Thakor Sena, an outfit in Gujarat, the party said it is "rousing passions which is adding to the insecurity of the non-Gujaratis. This is reprehensible".
The statement said the violence was particularly against people hailing from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, who are working in the state.
"What is happening in Gujarat is serious. Fanning hate, violence and discord is no solution for unemployment and people's economic woes", tweeted CPI (M) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury.
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Since the rape incident, the Gujarat Police has intensified patrolling in areas near industrial estates and places where migrant workers stay.
The ruling BJP has been blaming Congress MLA Alpesh Thakor and his outfit Gujarat Kshatriya-Thakor Sena for the outbreak of violence against Hindi-speaking people in the state.