Migrants, Demography and Punjab Jagao March

Migrants, Demography and Punjab Jagao March

Dal Khalsa, a radical Sikh organisation organised a two-day Punjab Jagao March from 31 October to 1 November 2007. The march is supposedly an attempt ‘to rekindle love for Punjab among Punjabis, a part from focussing on the problems generated by increasing flux of migrants to Punjab’ and creating awareness among people drug abuse and female foeticide (The Tribune, 31 October 2007). Dal Khalsa sounded alarm bells on the issue of demographic change in Punjab due to heavy influx of migrant population.

It is apparently for the first time that Dal Khalsa has decided to woo non-Sikhs as well to create uproar against the migrants.[1] The March began from Akal Takth, Amritsar and proceeded to Jalandhar, Phagwara and Nawanshahr. A Jatha of around 500 activists of the Dal took part in the march, carrying saffron flags and placards and raising slogans ‘Punjab for Punjabis’.[2] Dal Khalsa had earlier the Punjab government to implement Punjabi in letter and spirit and gave a call to people of the state to value their language and culture.

At Nawanshahr Harcharanjit Singh Dhami said that Dal Khalsa perceives an Assam-like foreigners’ issue is soon going to emerge in Punjab too.[3] He termed the economic need for migrant labour as absurd and gave a political colour to the issue by questioning the need to facilitate the making of ration cards and voters’ identity cards of the migratory population. Dhami further questioned that why can’t landlords and industrialists employ unemployed Punjabis? He also criticised the Election Commission and alleged that more than 10 lakh voters in Punjab are voting from more than one place.

Meanwhile, at a press conference at Phagwara, Charanjit Singh Atwal, deputy speaker of Lok Sabha said that lakhs of Punjabis live in several states and it was not possible to restrict migratory labourers in the state (The Tribune, 13^th November 2007).

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[1] Dal Khalsa is a radical Sikh organisation. On the occasion of Punjab Jagao March an ardas (prayer) was performed in the memory of Beant Singh, who had assassinated Indira Gandhi. At Phagwara, homage was paid to the victims of the 1984 riots.

[2] Leaders of the Khalsa Action Committee and the Sikh Student’s Federation (Bhindranwale), including Daljit Singh, Bhai Mohkam Singh and SGPC member Karnail Singh Panjoli participated in the march.

[3] He added that all political parties are pursuing narrow political ends and are oblivious to the social, cultural a, religious and political damage done to Punjab by their unmindful support to the migrant population.