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Sikh scholars oppose influx of migrant labourers
PTI - Chandigarh
Sikh scholars today strongly opposed the influx of labourers from other states into Punjab alleging it had "complicated the situation" in the state.
"The mass ingress of over 20 lakh immigrants from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa and other states have created many problems", they said during a two-day seminar on 'Changing demography of Punjab'. The huge influx of labourers from these states has overburdened the infrastructure, resulting in short supply of water and electricity, besides creating problems like non-availablity of accomodation and encroachment of public land in many parts of the state, the intellectuals opined.
They also attributed the soaring crime rate in Punjab to the growing number of migrant labourers from these states and charged the politicians with "unscrupulously exploiting the situation by treating them as a vote bank." The scholars' remarks assume significance in the wake of the bomb blast in a Ludhiana cinema hall last month in which six migrant labourers had been killed. Calling for a regulation on immigrants to the state, they demanded that it must be confined to genuine requirements.
"Our own youth must be tutored and motivated to work on our farms and industries", they said.
PTI - Chandigarh
Sikh scholars today strongly opposed the influx of labourers from other states into Punjab alleging it had "complicated the situation" in the state.
"The mass ingress of over 20 lakh immigrants from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa and other states have created many problems", they said during a two-day seminar on 'Changing demography of Punjab'. The huge influx of labourers from these states has overburdened the infrastructure, resulting in short supply of water and electricity, besides creating problems like non-availablity of accomodation and encroachment of public land in many parts of the state, the intellectuals opined.
They also attributed the soaring crime rate in Punjab to the growing number of migrant labourers from these states and charged the politicians with "unscrupulously exploiting the situation by treating them as a vote bank." The scholars' remarks assume significance in the wake of the bomb blast in a Ludhiana cinema hall last month in which six migrant labourers had been killed. Calling for a regulation on immigrants to the state, they demanded that it must be confined to genuine requirements.
"Our own youth must be tutored and motivated to work on our farms and industries", they said.