Ashish Ranjan
A case has been filed against an Uttar Pradesh-based BJP leader for spreading rumours about the “murder” of Bihar migrant workers in Tamil Nadu on social media.An editor of a newspaper and the proprietor of a local daily have also been named separately by Tamil Nadu for promoting animosity, and a police team has been assembled to apprehend them, according to officials.
Sharing a photo of Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin, Uttar Pradesh BJP spokesperson Prashant Umrao tweeted that “12 migrants from Bihar were hanged to death in Tamil Nadu for speaking in Hindi.”
Mr Umrao stated that despite the assaults on migrants, the leader of Bihar attended Mr Stalin’s birthday celebrations.The tweet has since been withdrawn.
The Tamil Nadu Police have charged Prashant Umrao with sowing discord among the populace based on their region and language. It also filed charges against the editor of Dainik Bhaskar and the owner of Tanvir Post for inciting hostility and disturbances. According to the police, Dainik Bhaskar portrayed the murder of a Bihari by a Jharkhandi as an assault on north Indian labourers.
In the past week, a number of false messages on WhatsApp concerning attacks on Bihari migrant labourers in the southern state have been circulated, prompting the state governments of Tamil Nadu and Bihar to issue a warning against such messages.
The state’s chief minister, MK Stalin, has issued a statement assuring the security of migrant employees. “Foreign workers have nothing to dread. If you are threatened, contact the helpline. The government and people of Tamil Nadu will defend our migrant compatriots “he said.
Tamil Nadu’s District Collectors have issued appeals in Hindi urging migrant labourers not to be afraid.The police in both states are intently monitoring social media to investigate rumours of attacks on migrant workers.
Also Read | Russia will run out of money next year: Oligarch
The Bihar government has also dispatched officials to Tamil Nadu to confer with migrant workers and local officials, according to sources in the office of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin.
