Stalin speaks to Nitish, assures safety of Bihar migrant workers in Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin on Saturday spoke to his BIhar counterpart Nitish Kumar and assured the safety of all migrant workers from Bihar after reports of them being persecuted started doing rounds on social media.
Some unverified reports on social media claimed Hindi-speaking labourers from Bihar have been subjected to hate crimes in Tamil Nadu.
Migrant workers in Tamil Nadu are as safe as in their native states and my government is steadfast in protecting their rights.
I warn of strict action against the Anti-Indian forces spreading hatred with the vile intention of disturbing the peace and harmony of our country. https://t.co/fiPMdzI4C0 pic.twitter.com/RfQSXlZrBS
— M.K.Stalin (@mkstalin) March 4, 2023
Although the state police said the purported videos of the attack on workers were all fake and misleading, the issue has snowballed into a political controversy.
The rumours also led to panic and fear among migrant workers from Bihar in the southern state. The issue found mention in the Bihar Assembly, prompting Nitish Kumar to send a team of officials to speak to workers in Tamil Nadu.
A team of four senior government officials, two of them with roots in Tamil Nadu, will arrive in the southern state on Sunday. A statement issued by Nitish Kumar’s office read, “The government is fully sensitive towards the matter.”
Apart from rumours of migrant workers being beaten up, there were also claims that two migrant workers were killed in Tamil Nadu. DGP Shailendra Babu said the videos circulating on social media are false. He said, “The facts of the videos are twisted so as to appear that migrant workers living in Tamil Nadu are being attacked.”
The rumours created a ruckus in the Bihar Assembly with the opposition demanding CM Nitish Kumar’s resignation. The videos which went viral were unrelated — one from Coimbatore, the Tamil Nadu Police said. The videos have no link with Bihari migrant labourers.
MK Stalin on Saturday issued a statement, backing the DGP, and said those who spread rumours are against India’s integrity and stern legal action will be taken against them. Other state workers are being cordially treated here, he said.
The chief minister also made an appeal to all migrant workers in the state. He said the workers can call the helpline number and the government will stand with them. Stalin further requested the media not to publish unverified claims.
MK Stalin discussed the matter with Nitish Kumar and assured that all the workers are safe and the state would not let anything untoward happen to them.
“I have also spoken to Bihar CM Nitish Kumar regarding this. I have assured him that all the migrants who help in the state’s development are our workers and we will not let anything untoward happen to them,” Stalin said in a statement.