industrial peace in Gujarat: Rupani

Ahmedabad : Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani on Thursday sought to allay fears of the business community in the wake of migration of workers from north India claiming that there was complete industrial peace and the state continued to be an ideal investment destination.

Speaking at the national executive committee meeting of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), the Chief Minister said: "There is zero unrest in Gujarat and the state has always had a business friendly environment."

Rupani exhorted the FICCI's delegates to organize conventions and conferences of their business establishments near the 'Statue of Unity'. He added that industries were thriving in Gujarat due to positive atmosphere and the state government's business-friendly policies.

The chief minister's appeal to trade and industry also coincides with the hectic preparations for the Gujarat government's big-ticket Vibrant Gujarat Global Investment Summit (VGGIS) in January 2019 to attract domestic and global investment in the state.

It is also the time when the BJP at the Centre and in north Indian states of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh faces crucial elections soon and in 2019. "At such time, it is vital for Rupani to ensure that Gujarat's image in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's home state is not tarnished, a BJP leader told IANS.

An alleged rape by a Bihar origin man on September 28 had sparked off attacks on migrant workers in the state forcing thousands of them to flee to their home towns in north India well ahead of Diwali festivities.

Though the state Government claimed that it had initiated swift action, it was not before the migration of workers had already started.