Gujarat BJP MLAs, youth leader "incited" attack on North Indians: Cong releases video

Migrants from north India queue up to leave Gujarat

Counterview Desk
Senior Gujarat Congress leader Shaktisinh Gohil, currently in charge of Bihar and national spokesperson, All-India Congress Committee, has sent a legal notice to chief minister Vijay Rupani threatening criminal case and civil defamation suit for accusing him with "baseless statement" that he was responsible for attacks on north Indians in Gujarat.
The legal notice, which comes at a time when accusing fingers are being pointed to Thakor Sena activists and its leader Alpesh Thakor for the attacks, names two BJP MLAs and a BJP youth leader for inciting attacks on "outsiders". A popular OBC leader, Alpesh Thakor entered Congress ahead of the Gujarat state assembly polls late last year.

Text of the legal notice:

On October 16, 2018 many newspapers had published your statement that Congress in-charge of Bihar Shaktisinh Gohil was responsible for attacks on people of other states in Gujarat. This news has appeared in Gujarati and English newspapers. I also have video of your interview to ANI channel in which you had made a clear allegation against Congress in-charge of Bihar which is against me I firmly believe that any citizen of India has right to live in any state.
Gujarat also has culture of "Vasudhaiv Kutumbkam"- the world is one family. Gujaratis live in many states and countries. Similarly people of other states have constitutional right to settle in Gujarat. These are my clear views I was in Bihar when incidents of attack on people of other states took place in Gujarat.

Alpesh Thakor

The moment I got this news, I called a press conference and said that incidents of Gujarat were sad and unfortunate and they should not have happened. I had even appealed to you and the Prime Minister. to take steps to maintain law and order situation in the state. I had also made a public appeal for peace and harmony.
During the period when outsiders were attacked, I was not in Gujarat even for a day. I was in Bihar and Delhi and all my efforts were for peace and harmony in Gujarat. Evidence is available about my press conference in this regard in Bihar and Delhi.
Whatsoever has happened in Gujarat is shameful for all. I believe that as Chief Minister it is your duty to maintain law and order in Gujarat. Instead of making politically motivated statement against me in Uttar Pradesh you should have taken action against me by filing FIR against me and arresting me.
I can never think of any kind of disturbance in Gujarat. Since there was no evidence against me you could not file any FIR nor could you arrest me. But if you make a statement in UP that I am responsible for attacks on outsiders in Gujarat then t is clearly a deliberate attempt to tarnish my image to cause great political and social damage to me In fact you and other leaders of your party are directly responsible for attack on outsiders in Gujarat. Of this there are many evidence.
The video of your party MLA of Himmatnagar Rajendra Chavda clearly establishes that attack on outsiders was a well planned conspiracy. If you are not aware of this here is a link of the video on YouTube. This clearly shows that the BJP MLA gathered thousands of people for attack on people of other states. He is seen saying that he had a talk with CM Vijay Rupani and he had said that more than 20 per cent outsiders in any unit will not be tolerated in anyway.

He said that that he would conduct a survey in the factories and he took responsibility of taking action in the presence of all of them. I will mobilize youth for agitation, I will not tolerate anything, he is seen as saying. While the BJP MLA was making these threatening statements there were slogans of "Biharion ko bhagao" (oust Biharis) in the background. You can hear those slogans also.
Besides, an office bearer of Yuva BJP, Vikas Patel, is using his Facebook account to mobilize people to run a campaign against outsiders. His profile has photo with Narendra Modi. Your Prantij MLA Gajendrasinh had taken out a rally. A person who was seen closely with him is an accused having three FIR against him for riots in Sabarkantha.
Another person who got bail had thanked the BJP MLA through a post in social media. One of the accused for attack on people of Madhya Pradesh working in a chocolate plant of Amul has photographs with the BJP MLA on his social media site. You can see them. He is accused for attack on MP people living in Vaghasi village of Anand.
There is evidence of campaign being run by BJP workers and leaders. I am sending this to you. In view of this it is clear that your government has totally failed in providing jobs to youth of Gujarat. They are exploited through fixed wage system. You are vibrant for five industrialists but small business people are facing tremendous difficulty. People of Gujarat who lead in business have to bear a lot because of notebandi and GST. Farmers are not getting remunerative price, adequate light and water. Fertiliser has become costly.

Shaktisinh Gohil, Vijay Rupani

It is a well-thought-out planned conspiracy to divert attention of people from these basic issues. And you make allegations against me without any evidence is damaging my image and reputation. My public life s fully committed to ideology and total fulfillment of my legal constitutional duties. I have discharged my duties as a minister under two CMs, chief whip of Opposition, leader of Opposition and as chairman of Public Accounts Committee.
Presently, I am national spokesperson of my party, Bihar in charge and member of Working Committee. Your baseless allegations have caused damage to my prestige and political standing which cannot be compensated. People of other states have right to live in Gujarat and peace should be restored in Gujarat. But you have painted me totally opposite to my views.
Your statement has damaged my social and political prestige very much. No money can compensate this. Still as per my legal rights I will file a case against you for penal compensation and will also file a criminal defamation case as you maligned me with allegations without any basis.
If you do not make a statement expressing regret and denial for what you said within two weeks in the channels and publications before which you made those baseless statements, I will take criminal and civil action against you I am sending this legal notice to you through e-mail, courier and Register AD so that it is served effectively.
Unless you make a statement within two weeks clarifying that you have no role in attacks on outsiders in Gujarat and send me copy of the published statements, criminal and civil action will be initiated against you.
(Slightly abridged)