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{{Infobox event
| title = 2018 attacks on Hindi-speaking migrants in Gujarat| image =
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| date = {{start and end dates|2018|09|28|2018|10|08|df=y}}
| venue =
| location = Several districts in [[Gujarat]], India
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| cause = Rape incident, unemployment
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| target = Hindi-speaking migrants from [[Uttar Pradesh]], [[Bihar]] and [[Madhya Pradesh]]
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| outcome = Exodus of migrants from Gujarat
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| arrests = 431
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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.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2">{{Cite news|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/rape-backlash-fearing-for-lives-after-attacks-by-mobs-up-mp-and-bihar-migrants-flee-gujarat-5390129/|title=Gujarat rape backlash: Fearing for lives after mob attacks, UP, MP and Bihar migrants flee|date=2018-10-07|work=The Indian Express|access-date=2018-10-08|language=en-US}}</ref> He worked at the ceramic factory at Dhundhar village near [[Himmatnagar]], [[Sabarkantha district]] in north Gujarat where the incident took place.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /> He was arrested by the police next day. It angered the Thakor community which held protests across Gujarat.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=https://www.news18.com/news/india/hundreds-of-up-bihar-migrants-flee-gujarat-after-rape-backlash-triggers-attacks-1901445.html|title=UP, Bihar Migrants Flee Gujarat After 'Rape Backlash' Triggers Attacks; 342 Arrested|last=Sharon|first=Meghdoot|date=2018-10-07|work=News18|access-date=2018-10-08}}
</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/violence-intensifies-migrants-flee-for-lives/articleshow/66093445.cms|title=Violence intensifies in Gujarat, migrants flee for lives|date=2018-10-06|work=The Times of India|access-date=2018-10-08}}</ref>

==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]].<ref name=":5">{{Cite news|url=http://zeenews.india.com/gujarat/gujarat-toddler-rape-all-indians-safe-in-state-says-congress-mla-alpesh-thakor-following-reports-of-mob-attack-2146544.html|title=Gujarat toddler rape: All Indians safe in state, says Congress MLA Alpesh Thakor following reports of mob attack|date=2018-10-07|work=Zee News|access-date=2018-10-08|language=en}}</ref> The police had arrested the twenty people for rioting.<ref name=":6">{{Cite news|url=https://www.ndtv.com/ahmedabad-news/alpesh-thakor-to-sit-on-fast-over-rape-of-4-month-old-girl-in-gujarat-1926515|title=Alpesh Thakor To Sit On Fast Over Rape Of 14-Month-Old Girl In Gujarat|date=2018-10-04|work=NDTV.com|access-date=2018-10-08}}</ref> The next day, [[Alpesh Thakor]], a leader of Koli<ref>{{Cite book|last=Lobo|first=Lancy|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1DBuAAAAMAAJ|title=The Thakors of North Gujarat: A Caste in the Village and the Region|date=1995|publisher=Hindustan Publishing Corporation|isbn=978-81-7075-035-2|language=en}}</ref> Thakor Sena and [[Indian National Congress]] [[Member of the Legislative Assembly (India)|MLA]]; had announced the fast from 8 October to seek justice of the rape survivor.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2018/oct/07/congress-mla-alpesh-thakor-denies-involvement-in-violence-over-sabarkantha-rape-1882351.html|title=Congress MLA Alpesh Thakor denies involvement in violence over Sabarkantha rape|work=The New Indian Express|access-date=2018-10-08}}</ref><ref name=":6" /> He had reportedly demanded the preference to the local people in jobs in industries in the state while addressing the protest.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/india/342-arrested-for-attacks-on-non-gujaratis-security-beefed-up-3021631.html|title=342 arrested for attacks on non-Gujaratis, security beefed up|website=Moneycontrol|language=en-US|access-date=2018-10-08}}</ref><ref name=":6" /> He had also accused the government of filing false cases against the members of his community and demanded their release.<ref name=":6" /><ref name=":3" />

On 3 October, there was an attack in [[Chandlodiya]], [[Ahmedabad]].<ref name=":0" /> 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 district|Mehsana]], [[Gandhinagar district|Gandhinagar]], [[Patan district|Patan]], [[Banaskantha]], [[Aravalli district|Aravalli]] and [[Ahmedabad district]]. The first two districts were the worst affected.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /> The attacks were chiefly in industrial estates and industrial belts.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://ahmedabadmirror.indiatimes.com/ahmedabad/others/50000-labourers-have-left-gujarat-already/articleshow/66112037.cms|title='50,000 labourers have left Gujarat already'|work=Ahmedabad Mirror|access-date=2018-10-08}}</ref> On 8 October, there were attacks in villages near [[Vadodara]] also.<ref name=":7">{{Cite news|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/gujarat-rape-15-migrant-workers-attacked-in-vadodara-5391180/|title=Gujarat rape: 15 migrant workers attacked in Vadodara|date=2018-10-08|work=The Indian Express|access-date=2018-10-08|language=en-US}}</ref> No incidents of attack reported after 9 October.<ref name=":10">{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/north-indian-migrant-workers-exodus-abating-in-gujarat-10-held-for-hate-messages/article25184246.ece|title=North Indian migrant workers exodus abating in Gujarat; 10 held for hate messages|date=2018-10-10|work=The Hindu|access-date=2018-10-14|others=Special Correspondent|language=en-IN|issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

The attacks triggered exodus of the more than thousand labourers from Gujarat to their native states.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2" /><ref name=":4">{{Cite news|url=https://www.financialexpress.com/india-news/gujarat-dgp-denies-exodus-due-to-fear-says-migrants-leaving-due-to-festival-season/1341137/|title=Gujarat DGP denies exodus due to fear, says migrants leaving due to festival season|date=2018-10-08|work=The Financial Express|access-date=2018-10-08|language=en-US}}</ref> The [[Director general of police|Director General of Police]] denied the exodus and attributed the leaving migrants to the upcoming festive season.<ref name=":4" /><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/gujarat-remains-on-edge-as-migrants-face-backlash/story-fPjXR4lmbNb94DiIFykaAO.html|title=Gujarat remains on edge as migrants face backlash|last=Dave|first=Hiral|date=2018-10-07|work=Hindustan Times|access-date=2018-10-08|language=en}}</ref> Uttar Bharatiya Vikas Parishad, an outfit supporting north Indian migrants, claimed that around 20,000 people had left Gujarat by 8 October.<ref name=":8">{{Cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/gujarat-migrant-attacks-ahmed-patel-defends-alpesh-thakor-targets-bjp-govt/articleshow/66124565.cms|title=Gujarat migrant attacks: Ahmed Patel defends Alpesh Thakor, targets BJP govt|work=The Times of India|access-date=2018-10-09}}</ref>

==Government action==
By 8 October, total 55 [[First information report|FIRs]] were lodged and 431 people were arrested.<ref name=":9">{{Cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/gujarat-government-appeals-to-hindi-speaking-migrants-to-return-says-431-arrested-for-attacks-on-them/articleshow/66122997.cms|title=Gujarat government appeals to migrants to return, says 431 arrested for attacks on them|work=The Times of India|access-date=2018-10-09}}</ref> Ten people were arrested for spreading rumours and hatred on social media.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/why-gujarat-has-turned-against-migrants-from-up-bihar-what-we-know-so-far-1358274-2018-10-08|title=Why Gujarat has turned against migrants from UP, Bihar: What we know so far|website=India Today|language=en|access-date=2018-10-08}}</ref><ref name=":10" /> The [[government of Gujarat]] provided security to more than hundred factories.<ref name=":0" /> Apart from [[Gujarat Police|State Police]], seventeen companies of State Reserve Police (SRP) were deployed in the affected districts.<ref name=":3">{{Cite news|url=http://www.freepressjournal.in/india/gujarat-342-arrested-for-attacking-migrants-from-uttar-pradesh-bihar-after-14-month-old-girls-rape-in-sabarkantha/1370347|title=Gujarat: 342 arrested for attacking migrants from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar after 14-month-old girl's rape in Sabarkantha|date=2018-10-08|work=Free Press Journal|access-date=2018-10-08|language=en-GB}}</ref>

The Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) urged the government to restore the peace as the industries were affected.<ref name=":8" />

==Political reactions==
The [[Bharatiya Janata Party]] (BJP) and [[Indian National Congress]] (INC), two major political parties in [[Gujarat Legislative Assembly|Gujarat assembly]], appealed for peace and harmony.<ref name=":2" /> The opposition INC state chief Amit Chavda reasoned the rising unemployment in youth behind the anger and criticised the attackers.<ref name=":2" /> INC President [[Rahul Gandhi]] called the attacks "completely wrong" and attributed it to unemployment and shutdown of the factories.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/targeting-migrant-workers-in-gujarat-completely-wrong-rahul-gandhi-1928822|title=Targeting Migrant Workers In Gujarat "Completely Wrong": Rahul Gandhi|work=NDTV.com|access-date=2018-10-09}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/gujarat-attacks-migrants-rahul-gandhi-1358811-2018-10-08|title=Factory shutdowns root of violence against migrant workers in Gujarat: Rahul Gandhi|website=India Today|language=en|access-date=2018-10-09}}</ref>

BJP blamed Alpesh Thakor and his outfit for the violence.<ref name=":11">{{Cite news|url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/after-attack-on-migrants-in-gujarat-mla-alpesh-thakor-sits-on-fast-1930512|title=Alpesh Thakor Ends 'Goodwill' Fast, Says He Is Not 'Spreading Hatred'|work=NDTV.com|access-date=2018-10-14}}</ref> Alpesh Thakor denied his involvement and appealed for peace to his community. He kept "goodwill" fast in Ahmedabad for a day on 11 October.<ref name=":5" /><ref name=":11" /> The Government of Gujarat appealed to the migrants to return.<ref name=":9" /><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/gujarat-deputy-cm-nitin-patel-migrants-who-fled-have-started-returning-5401094/|title=Gujarat deputy CM Nitin Patel: Migrants who fled have started returning|date=2018-10-14|work=The Indian Express|access-date=2018-10-14|language=en-US}}</ref>

{{Quote
|text="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."
|author=Shyamsingh Thakur, president of Uttar Bhartiya Vikas Parisha told Ahmedabad Mirror, when rumours of Thakor joining BJP grew in early 2019. <ref>https://ahmedabadmirror.indiatimes.com/loksabha-elections/north-indians-up-ante-against-alpesh-thakor-urge-bjp-to-shun-him/articleshow/68840749.cms</ref>
}}

In July 2019, after Lok Sabha Elections, Alpesh Thakor joined BJP after quitting INC.<ref>https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/national/former-congress-leader-alpesh-thakor-joins-bjp/article28561437.ece</ref> 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.<ref name=":9" /> [[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."<ref name=":0" />

==See also==
*[[2008 attacks on Uttar Pradeshi and Bihari migrants in Maharashtra]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:2018 Attacks on North Indians in Gujarat}}

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[[Category:2018 in India]]
[[Category:History of Gujarat (1947–present)]]
[[Category:Crime in Gujarat]]
[[Category:Violence in India]]
[[Category:Hate crimes]]
[[Category:Racism in India]]
[[Category:Discrimination in India]]
[[Category:Regionalism in India]]

2018 attacks on Hindi-speaking migrants in Gujarat - Revision history

MetaBOT at 19:40, 8 July 2023