Call to ‘control’ migrants into Punjab

CHANDIGARH: Hundreds of Dal Khalsa activists took out processions in Jalandhar and Hoshiarpur to protest against the influx of migrant labourers from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.

Describing migrants as a ‘population bomb’, the Dal Khalsa said it resented the “uncontrolled influx and permanent settlement” of these migrants.

Dal chief HS Dhami said the government should have rules to curb this influx. Protestors carried placards and put up hoardings which read, ‘Return Migrants, Save Punjab’ and ‘Punjab for Punjabis’.

The Dal also wants a law to limit the percentage of jobs for non-Punjabis in all enterprises, private and public. Dhami said about 13 lakh migrants are working in the state at present while about 15 lakh Punjabis are unemployed.