Ludhiana violence by migrant labourers, an indicator of bigger trouble in offing
Kanwal Preet Kaur
Saturday, 05 December 2009
It is indeed worrying that migrant labourers who contributed significantly in development of Punjab, have induldged in violence following police inaction on complaint of robbey by a labourer at Dhandari Kalan.
Ludhiana has strong presence of migrant labourers and it is also reason for hatered against particularly the Bihari labourers who has majority among migrants. The migrants from Bihar are often blamed for rising crime in Ludhiana and are considered a source of nuisance all over the state. In first sight it appears to be a gross negligence of police which failed to understand the gravity of situation. Being a citizen of India, Bihari migrants were within their right to lodge their complaint with the police. It is ironical that Punjab police has became immune to problems of common people. The Ludhiana incident is result of police callousness. It is shameful that Punjab DGP P.S.Gill who is least respected by state police, is trying to shield the gullty policemen on the plea that police was busy in making arrangement for some function.
The radical forces in Punjab have been up in arms agains the Bihari migrant labourers. O9n ground, the situation is not different from Maharashtra or Assam where local have revolted against Bihari migrants and launched offensive to push them out of state. The situation by all means is volatile and it would be foolish on the part of police and state government to blind the eyes. Probably time has come to face the ground realities. The simmering anger against Bihari labourers in the Punjabi population may lead to violence in other cities of Punjab.
Punjab is a agriculture state and one should not forget that without the helping hand of migrant labourers from Bihar and Uttar Pardesh, it would have been imposible to achieve the green revolution. The Punjabi youth has lost its love for labour and has turned white collared.
In Ludhiana, the industrial town of Punjab, the concentration of migrants is very high and they have formed political clout at many assembly seats. The victory of Congress candidate Manish Tewari from Ludhiana Parliamentary seat is attributed to support of migrant labourers.
We condemn the violence by migrant labourers. They are welcome to work in Punjab but such a strong reaction on minor provocation is highly deplorable. They must love the place from where they earn livelihood. Punjab government shall take stern action against those responsible for the Ludhiana violence that may be police or any trouble maker for that matter. The chain reaction, if triggered, would put the Punjab on fire once again for a wrong reason.
Kanwal Preet Kaur, Managing Editor
Kanwal Preet Kaur
Saturday, 05 December 2009
It is indeed worrying that migrant labourers who contributed significantly in development of Punjab, have induldged in violence following police inaction on complaint of robbey by a labourer at Dhandari Kalan.
Ludhiana has strong presence of migrant labourers and it is also reason for hatered against particularly the Bihari labourers who has majority among migrants. The migrants from Bihar are often blamed for rising crime in Ludhiana and are considered a source of nuisance all over the state. In first sight it appears to be a gross negligence of police which failed to understand the gravity of situation. Being a citizen of India, Bihari migrants were within their right to lodge their complaint with the police. It is ironical that Punjab police has became immune to problems of common people. The Ludhiana incident is result of police callousness. It is shameful that Punjab DGP P.S.Gill who is least respected by state police, is trying to shield the gullty policemen on the plea that police was busy in making arrangement for some function.
The radical forces in Punjab have been up in arms agains the Bihari migrant labourers. O9n ground, the situation is not different from Maharashtra or Assam where local have revolted against Bihari migrants and launched offensive to push them out of state. The situation by all means is volatile and it would be foolish on the part of police and state government to blind the eyes. Probably time has come to face the ground realities. The simmering anger against Bihari labourers in the Punjabi population may lead to violence in other cities of Punjab.
Punjab is a agriculture state and one should not forget that without the helping hand of migrant labourers from Bihar and Uttar Pardesh, it would have been imposible to achieve the green revolution. The Punjabi youth has lost its love for labour and has turned white collared.
In Ludhiana, the industrial town of Punjab, the concentration of migrants is very high and they have formed political clout at many assembly seats. The victory of Congress candidate Manish Tewari from Ludhiana Parliamentary seat is attributed to support of migrant labourers.
We condemn the violence by migrant labourers. They are welcome to work in Punjab but such a strong reaction on minor provocation is highly deplorable. They must love the place from where they earn livelihood. Punjab government shall take stern action against those responsible for the Ludhiana violence that may be police or any trouble maker for that matter. The chain reaction, if triggered, would put the Punjab on fire once again for a wrong reason.
Kanwal Preet Kaur, Managing Editor
