Rupani blames Cong for violence against migrants

Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani on Monday blamed the Congress for "orchestrating" violence against migrants from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar in his state and said that as many as 50 Congress workers were among those arrested in connection with the violence.

Speaking to reporters here, Rupani accused Congress MLA Alpesh Thakor of "hatching a conspiracy" to disrupt peace in Gujarat and asked Congress president Rahul Gandhi to take action against him.

"It was a well-planned conspiracy to trigger unrest in Gujarat and engineer divisions in the society at a time when the state was going to celebrate the unveiling of Statue of Unity," he said.

"The Gujarat government is committed to ensure the safety of all non-Gujaratis... we took immediate action against the perpetrators of the violence... 700 people have been arrested in connection with the violence... the situation is normal now," he said.

Rupani, who was accompanied by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, said migrants had contributed to the development of Gujarat.

Adityanath showered praise on Rupani and said that Gujarat was a model of development for others to follow.

Earlier, Rupani faced protests from Congress and Samajwadi Party (SP) workers upon his arrival in the state capital. Congress workers released black balloons in the air to register their protest against the violence inflicted on migrants from Uttar Pradesh.

Around a dozen SP workers were arrested when they tried to wave black flags in front of Rupani's motorcade near the Lucknow University campus here.