Dal Khalsa to begin anti-migrant drive in Punjab

[Guest Jahan]

Radical Sikh group wants migrants out of Punjab

Indo-Asian News Service

Chandigarh, November 1

http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_108...084230,0009.htm

Amritsar-based Dal Khalsa, a radical Sikh organization, on Monday began a drive against migrants from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, who have settled in Punjab, saying they are a drain on the state's economy.

The radical Sikh organisation, which believes in a separate Sikh country of Khalistan, has said it would start its anti-migrant drive from the industrial city of Ludhiana, which has the largest migrant population.

The organisation has stated that migrants earn Rs 30 billion annually from Punjab and remit over Rs 18 billion to their respective states, draining the state economy.

An advertisement released by the organisation added that migrants, if allowed to come into Punjab unchecked and unhindered, would hold the key to the state's political power.

The issue of migrants has been gaining centre stage for some time.

The Dal Khalsa's drive comes soon after the arrest of "baby-killer" Darbara Singh in neighbouring Jalandhar district, who allegedly killed 17 children -- all belonging to migrants -- in less than 10 months in Punjab.

He allegedly even sexually abused some of them, saying that he had committed the crimes to settle scores with migrants.

While a radical organisation like Dal Khalsa is trying to raise the bogey of migrants to give its cause of Khalistan a fillip, political parties have also been focusing co

nsiderable attention on them to garner votes.

In the parliamentary elections earlier this year, the Congress and other parties had roped in leaders from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh to campaign in Ludhiana, Chandigarh and other places to influence the migrant vote bank.

The Congress, for instance, had invited Bihar strongman Lalu Prasad to campaign for the party in Ludhiana. He couldn't make it, but his speech was played before the gathering comprising mostly of migrants from Bihar and other states.

One-third of Ludhiana's population of over 2.5 million comprises migrants.

In Chandigarh, migrants account for over 350,000 out of the 950,000-strong population.

The Dal Khalsa estimates that migrants constitute one-tenth of Punjab's total population of 230 million.

___________________________________________________

Dal Khalsa march against migrants today

Tribune News Service

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2004/20041101/ldh1.htm#5

Ludhiana, October 31

The Dal Khalsa has got a formal permission from the government to hold a march on Punjab Day tomorrow against the influx of migrants into Punjab. The march will start from Master Tara Singh College and conclude at the Mini Secretariat here.

Mr Kanwarpal Singh, general secretary of the Dal Khalsa, gave this information to The Tribune over the telephone from Amritsar. He said banners and placards would convey to the migrants that they were not welcome in Punjab.

The Dal Khalsa would distribute literature about the consequences of migrants settling down in the state.

The Dal Khalsa wants the government to monitor the entry of the migrant labourers into the state. It has been demanding a legislation which would ensure that the demographic profile of the state was not disturbed.

Supporting the issue, Mr Chiranjit Singh Channi, a lea

der of the Khalsa Panchayat, said the issue was of urgent importance.

[Guest Jahan]

Scared of migrants, Dal Khalsa to launch statewide stir

Tribune News Service

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2004/20041102/ldh1.htm

- Dal Khalsa activists protest against the influx of migrants in the state, in Ludhiana on Monday. — A Tribune photograph

Ludhiana, November 1

The Dal Khalsa has resolved to launch a statewide agitation against the influx of migrants in Punjab. The party announced this here today. Hundreds of activists took to the streets here today to protest against what they termed as a ‘population bomb.’ The protesters urged the government to evolve a migration policy.

Displaying placards and banners the demonstrators tried to alarm migrants living in the interior of the city.

Dal Khalsa working president Harcharanjit Singh Dhami said the influx of migrant labour has had serious socio-economic-cultural ramifications on the society. Initially, cheap labour might have been a privilege, but now it had become a headache.

“We have waited for long for the influx to end, but the migration graph has spiralled out of control. Now the people are getting impatient to tackle the menace,” he stressed.

Asked as to what measures the Dal would suggest to the government, he said the government must promulgate an Act fixing the upper limit of the percentage of jobs for non-Punjabis in all enterprises in the state, whether in the private or public sector. It should further enact another law to b

ar outsiders from purchasing immovable property in the state. Steps should be taken to regulate and monitor the influx of labourers. There must be registration offices for migrants at all bus stands and railway stations. Similarly, the health department must introduce quarantine measures. Slum areas should be cleared, he added.

He said nobody could deny that migration of labourers reflected the demand for manpower. “However, no state in the country permits unchecked influx of migrants. It is imperative to legislate no-settlement laws applicable to migrants. No schemes should ever be promoted to settle migrants in Punjab and Chandigarh. Let the Central Government settle them in their home towns,” he added.

“We have been accused of exaggerating the situation. It is being said that if Sikhs go to other countries for better opportunities, why deny migrants the same right,” he said. Stressing that parallels could not be drawn between both situations, he said all such questions would be answered in our white paper.

Another leader, Mr Kanwarpal Singh, said more than 22 lakh migrants were working in the state while 15 lakh Punjabis were unemployed. The influx was managed by certain forces that aimed to reduce the Sikhs to a minority in their own state. The sudden rise of Hindi newspapers was an indicator to the trend.

Shinder Pal Singh, organising secretary of the outfit, and Sarbjit Singh Ghuman, said migrants were earning Rs 3,000 crore per annum and remitting two-thirds to their native places. A recent study by PAU revealed that more than 78 per cent labourers had expressed their desire to settle in the state and this figure was just 11 per cent of that in 1983-84.

Dr Daljit Singh said another disturbing trend was the use of tobacco among the rural folks, especially youngsters. “Sikh youth have taken to smoking and chewing tobacco after it made its entry with the arrival of migrants. Instead of adopting our culture, the migrants have polluted ours,” he added.

[sher-e-panjab]

DAMN RITE ABOUT TIME!!!!

[Mann_Jatt]

LOL, radical party.

This is a really important situation right now, which needs addressing.

I hope that the Dal Khalsa remain free of the corruption that has eaten the heart of the Akalis.

[S1ngh]

Radical??

First boot the reporter out of punjab for putting label "Radical" in front of Dal Khalsa.. How he assumed that they are radical?? they are working for the betterment for PUNJAB not just for sikhs.. Ahh doh tukeey deh reportara neh tah haad karney hundey ya..

Btw.. i welcome their move on this issue !!

[Guest Jahan]

Migrants draining Punjab's economy

"No state can afford to permit unchecked influx of migrants"

Punjab, a homeland for Sikhs has a large number of unwelcome guests in the shape of migrant labour since last decade. The continue increase in their numbers has caused a major concern amongst all those who stood for prosperous and secure Punjab.

Dal Khalsa launched a statewide movement to spread awareness amongst masses against their dependency on UP & Bihari Bayahias. Activists of the organization described them as 'population bomb' and resolved to infuse new vigor in the ranks and files of the people of the state for an agitation against the influx of migrants in Punjab.

In the first ever-public protest against the influx of migrants in Punjab, Dal Khalsa today asked the Punjab government to build rules and evolve its immigration policies to curb the menace. The organization chooses the occasion of 38th anniversary of Punjab Day to air its resentment against the migrants.

Hundreds of its activist displaying placards and banners marched in the interior of the city of Ludhiana that have maximum number of migrants, to convey that the (population) bomb was ticking and that the migrants were 'unwelcome guest' in the state.

The 'charges' leveled against migrant labour ranges from changing demographic complexion to polluting culture. The activists shouted slogans urging the government to ban further entries o

f migrants. Reading between the lines one could easily make out that the problem as a potential to create unrest in the state.

Pledging to take the issue to its logical conclusion, the Dal Khalsa unfolded its future programmes including publishing of white paper on the issue, approaching the state chief minister Captain Amrinder Singh to apprise him of the explosive situation and suggest measures, holding small conventions in remote areas for educating masses against its ramifications and if need arises moving to the court for addressing the problem.

The team of the Dal Khalsa led by its working president met the concerned officer in the office of Deputy Commissioner and apprise him of the volatile situation. The memorandum addressed to the chief minister highlighting the concern was submitted to the official.

In his address, Harcharanjit Singh Dhami, leader of the group argued that the issue has had a serious socio-economic-cultural ramification on our society. Initially, it may be a privilege but now it has become a headache.

When media persons asked him as what measures his group suggest to the Punjab government for addressing the problem, Mr Dhami said the government must promulgate an Act, which fixes the upper limit of the percentage of jobs for non-Punjabis Residents in all enterprises in the state whether private or public sector. It should enact a law to bar outsiders from purchasing immovable properties. Steps should be taken to regulate and monitor the influx of the labours. There must be registration offices for migrants at all bus stands and railway stations. Similarly, health department must introduce quarantine measures. Slum areas should be razed, he opined.

He said chief minister Capt Amrinder Singh should read what was written on the wall: "Nobody can deny that migration of labour is a natural phenomenon reflecting demand for manpower. However, no state permits unchecked influx of migrants. It is imperative to legislate no-settlement laws applicable to mig

rants. No schemes should ever be promoted to settle migrants in Punjab. Let the Central government settle them in their home towns".

When media men reminded Mr Dhami that if Sikhs could go to other countries for better lives, why deny migrants the same right, he replied that parallels could not be drawn in both the cases. However, he said answers to all these puzzling questions would be published in our white paper very shortly.

Admitting that laziness has crept in within Sikh masses and that they had started shirking from hard work, he said we have to reverse the situation and this was a Herculean task before us.

Another senior leader of the Dal Khalsa Mr Kanwar Pal Singh claimed that the continuous entry of migrant labour would tend to disturb the demographic complexion of the state, which in due course could become a serious threat to Sikh identity.

He said if the entry of migrants would remain continue in the same pace, the time would not be far when they (migrants) would hold the key to balance the state's political power.

According to rough estimates, he claim, the number of migrants was one tenth of the total population of the state. About 13 lack migrants are presently working in the state while app. 15 lacs Punjabi's were unemployed.

The influx of migrant labour was being 'managed' by 'unseen' central forces that were all set to reduce the Sikhs to minority in Punjab itself. The sudden entry of Hindi newspapers in a short span of time has a blessing of these forces. To a question, he said Punjab unit of the BJP have been supporting the cause of migrants to establish their vote-bank.

Touching the other aspects of the 'problem', Shinder Pal Singh, organizing secretary said the influx of migrants has provided an opportunity to criminal elements to penetrate into the rural areas of the state under the garb of skilled workers. Since all successive governments have bitterly failed in monitoring and regulating the entries an

d identities of the migrants, it became easy for them to return to their native lands after committing heinous crimes.

Sarbjit Singh Ghuman while speaking said nearly one tenth of the total population of the state is migrant labour. In a startling revelation he said the migrants were earning app. 3000 crores per annum and out of it they were remitting back two-third of their earnings to their native places.

Tracing the origin of current migration to the days of green revolution, he said it has increased many times in the post-militancy period as compared to 1983-84. More than 22 lac migrants have got settled in various parts of the state but they have consolidated themselves mostly in industrial towns as compared to other cities.

He cited the study conducted by Professors of PAU according to which around 55 percent of the agricultural labours had expressed their willingness to settle here permanently, where as this figure was about 11 percent in 1983-84. More recently, the percentage has gone to 78 who are in a mood to settle here permanently. The days were not far when we would have Bihar origin MLA's, he summed up.

Listing the social evils migrants brought along with them, Dr Daljit Singh, another party secretary said tobacco, commonly found with migrants of Bihar and UP have reached to the countryside of the state. Sikh youth had taken to chewing of tobacco and numbers of addicts are in large numbers. Contrary to our youth who had fled to West in search of green pastures, these migrants has not adopted Punjab's culture. Rather they were polluting our culture, he observed.

Blaming the administrations for turning blind eye to encroachments and slums constructed on illegal lands, Birinder Pal Singh Saholi, district president of the radical group, said the crime rate has increased manifold. Incidents of thefts, hooliganism and murders have been largely reported in the media. In most of the cases, migrant labourers were involved.

We have a grudge against the p

revious as well as present Punjab government for not taking the problem with a serious view, said Dr Manjinder Singh, another senior leader.

Prominent amongst those who took part in the procession were Sawinder Singh Kot Khalsa, Balraj Singh, Subedar Baldev Singh, Dr Arpal Singh, Surinder Singh Talabpur, Sukhvinder Singh Dugri, Jagjit Singh Moga, Harmohinder Singh & Ranbir Singh Hoshiarpur, Lakhvir Singh, Parbjot Singh and Gurdeep Singh.

http://www.dalkhalsa.com/activities/dkav1016.html

[Guest Jahan]

Memorandum to the Chief Minister of Punjab:

Build rules, Return Migrants & Save Punjab

The issue of migrant labour has reached an alarming position and it is time for all of us to look into the problem and explore means to curb the menace. We feel the influx of migrant labour has had serious socio-economic-cultural ramifications on our society.

We apprehend that the continuous entry of migrant labour would tend to disturb the demographic complexion of the state. According to a preliminary study by the Punjab Agricultural University (Ludhiana), nearly one tenth of the total population of the state is migrant labour. Another survey says that the migrants are earning app. 3000 crores per annum and out of it they were remitting back two-third of their earnings to their native places.

The influx of migrants has provided an opportunity to criminal elements to penetrate into the rural areas of the state under the garb of skilled workers. Since all successive governments have bitterly failed in monitoring and regulating the entries and identities of the migrants, it became easy for them to return to their native lands after committing heinous crimes.

We appreciate the real work you did in terminating all past agreements on state's river water and bringing to book the likes of Ravi Sidhu, Dr Sareen, Jagdish Tangri and Ajit Singh Phoola. Presently, the interests of the state are being undermined by the influx of migrants. You must constitu

te a team of experts to undertake a deeper study to assess the real implications of the problem. The state must realize its responsibility before its too late.

We seek:

· The state government should promulgate an Act, which fixes the upper limit of the percentage of jobs for non-Punjabi residents in all enterprises in the state whether private or public sector. Under no circumstances should this exceed twenty percent.

· Himachal, J&K, Rajasthan have barred outsiders from purchasing immovable properties in their states. The same legislation in Punjab should be enacted.

· State must regulate and monitor the influx of the labours. At all bus stands and railway stations there must be Registration offices for migrants.

· Similarly, health department must introduce quarantine measures.

· Illegal jhugees (slum areas) should not be allowed to come up.

We know you are bold enough. Opportunity has once again knocked your doors. Hope this time again you will prove that you are a chief minister with a difference: who could prefer state’s interest to political gains.

Regards.

Harcharanjit Singh Dhami

(Working President)

Dated: 1st Nov, 2004

http://www.dalkhalsa.com/activities/dkav1017.html

[Guest Jahan]

Ensure work for Punjab labour, Mann asks CM

Tribune News Service

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2004/20041121/...1/punjab1.htm#6

Sangrur, November 20

Mr Simranjit Singh Mann, President of the Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar), today asked the Punjab Government to enact a law for ensuring 100 per cent employment to Punjabi labourers in the industry and agriculture sectors of the state.

Addressing a press conference here today, Mr Mann said the Punjab Chief Minister, Capt Amarinder Singh, should table a Bill in the Punjab Assembly, ensuring 100 per cent employment in the industry and agriculture sectors for Punjabi labourers. He said no migrant labourer should be employed in the industrial and agriculture sectors in the state till the adjustment of all Punjabi labourers in both these sectors.

Mr Mann suggested that identification and documentation of the migrant labour should be done because in the garb of labourers, many criminals had also descended on the land of Punjab. He said no migrant labourer should be given employment in the state without police verification. He said the state government should make these suggestions a part of the Bill, as sought by him, while working out the modalities of the Bill.

Mr Mann asked the President and the Prime Minister of Pakistan not to talk about the cause of Kashmiris alone and also raise issues of Sikhs with the Indian Government. He said the Pakistan Prime Minister, who is visiting India, should talk about Sikh genocide in the country as he felt there was no MP

of Sikhs in Parliament who could raise the issues.

Mr Mann told mediapersons that the SAD(A) had constituted a committee to probe the circumstances in which the wife of Sherpur MLA Gobind Singh Kanjhla died a few months ago.

[mann_kaum_layee_qurbaan]

"The Dal Khalsa estimates that migrants constitute one-tenth of Punjab's total population of 230 million."

there are not 230 million people in punjab.....maybe that would be the figure if migrants are not stopped :T:

and as for calling dal khalsa radical, it is amazing how shiv sena, RSS, VHP, and bajrang dal are "nationalist parties" even after having the blood of thousands of muslims on their hands in Godhra...

People People People, anyone in India who raises a "Sikh Punjab" issue, he or she is a radical, extermist. terrorist, khalistani separatist. Our thick headed leaders and people in Punjab can't hear the gov't of india telling them, hey you guys shut your mouths, you shut up and patrol our border with pakistan, die for us, defend us, if you want any rights get ready for us to murder your sons in the thousands, we will rape your women before your eyes. Sounds sick and propaganda like right, well it has already happened, and watch it will happen again.

Our people are brave, yet very naive.

[Deep Singh]

I think they meant 230 lakh, or 2,3 crore. 1 million is 10 lakh.