Why Punjab villages are kicking out migrants, not renting houses
Residents of Jandpur village in Kharar, Punjab, have put up multiple boards with 11 instructions for migrants to follow in order to stay in the hamlet. Branding the move xenophobic, some migrants have left the village, while the Kharar police and senior administration officers have questioned the villagers' authority to impose such diktats. The villagers, however, insist that the regulations apply to everyone, not only migrants.
Migrants must not be seen outside after 9pm
According to the new rules, migrants in Jandpur village are not allowed outside after 9:00pm. The rules also include mandatory police verification of migrants, prohibition of smoking cigarettes, and chewing tobacco or betel leaf to prevent spitting on village roads. The list also prohibits more than two people in a room, migrants walking around in half-attire, and states that the house owner would be held accountable if any migrant engages in unlawful activity.
'Migrants roam half-naked, causing discomfort to women'
Villager Sajjan Singh expressed his disappointment with migrants' behavior, accusing them of roaming around half-naked and causing discomfort to female residents. Gurmeet Singh, another villager, criticized migrants from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar for spitting on roads outside the village gurdwara, calling it disrespectful to their religion. Surprisingly, many migrants who have been living in the village of 2,000 people say they support the move. "It is right and people should not roam around half-naked," Vijay Pratap from Bihar told ANI.
Another village passes resolution barring migrants
Just days prior, a village in Mohali's Kurali had passed a resolution prohibiting migrants from living there. The resolution was signed by at least 300 residents of Mundo Sangatiyan village, who cited several "theft incidents" in which they claimed children of the migrants were involved. The resolution stated that no migrants will be granted a rental house in the village. "Those migrant families already residing in the village shall be given some time to leave," a notice read.
Village has a population of approximately 1,500
The village has a population of approximately 1,500 people, with 50 of them being migrants from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Rajasthan. At least 30 people have lived here for more than a decade and have their Aadhar and voter cards registered. Munni from Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, who has lived here for 15 years is one of them. "If anyone was found involved in any theft, that particular family must be ousted. Why are they targeting all migrants?" she told HT.
Jandpur incident mirrors similar situation in Mohali's Kurali
Village sarpanch Jaspal Singh said the resolution was not passed or signed by any authorized person, including the secretary or sarpanch. "A few people got the resolution signed from members of the local gurdwara committee and asked other villagers to sign the paper," he said. When police attempted to intervene, gangster-turned-activist Lakha Sidhana came to the villagers' support and convened a meeting on Tuesday evening.
