Nawanshahr:- Today, the Immigrant-Punjabi Ekta Manch held a unity march in Nawanshahr and called for further strengthening the bond between Punjabis and immigrants. Sanyukta Kisan Morcha, Indian Federation of Trade Unions (IFTU), Rural Labour Union, Immigrant Labour Union, Construction Masonry Labour Union, Street Vendor Workers Union, Jugadu Street Vendor Workers Union and Bhatta Workers Union participated in this march.
After the march, they handed over a memorandum to the Additional Deputy Commissioner and demanded strict punishment to the murderer of child Harvir Singh in Hoshiarpur as per the law, legal action against the panchayats that passed resolutions against immigrants, protection of life and property of immigrants, and the administration to hold a joint meeting of religious and social organizations of the district, farmer-labour organizations and immigrant organizations as soon as possible. A memorandum was submitted to the administration in the name of the Chief Minister of Punjab.
Before the Ekta March, a grand rally was held at the local bus stand in which more than 2500 people participated. First of all, a two-minute silence was observed to pay tribute to the child Harvir Singh.
The rally was addressed by IFTU state president Kulwinder Singh Waraich, district president of Parvasi Mazdoor Union Parveen Kumar Nirala, district secretary of Jamhoori Adhikar Sabha Jasbir Deep, president of Dr. Ambedkar Educational Welfare Trust Nawanshahr Satish Kumar Lal, district president of Bharatiya Kisan Union (Rajewal) Santokh Singh, district president of Kirti Kisan Union Surinder Singh Bains, state committee member Bhupinder Singh Waraich, leader of Jamhoori Kisan Sabha Kuldeep Singh Durka, leader of All India Kisan Sabha Charanjit Singh Daulat Pur, leader of National Kisan Union Nirmal Singh Aujla, leader of Construction Mistri Mazdoor Union Shiv Nandan, president of Kandi Sangharsh Committee Maha Singh Raudi, district leader of Rural Mazdoor Union Hari Ram Rasulpuri and Dhadhi Gurdeep Singh Udapar.
The leaders condemned the Punjabi vs. Immigrant narrative being created by some parties and called upon the people to be vigilant against hateful forces. Demanding strict punishment for the murderer of a five-year-old boy murdered in Hoshiarpur, the leaders said that some anti-people forces are active in fueling hatred in Punjab and have made it their mission to spew venom against immigrants. By doing so, they are sowing thorns for Sikhs and other Punjabis living outside Punjab.
The leaders said that any criminal must be punished for the crime committed, but no entire community can be punished for the crime committed by one criminal. They said that migration always happens from less prosperous states and countries to more developed and prosperous states and countries.
Just as people from Punjab migrate to more developed countries like England, Canada, America, Australia and other countries, similarly people from states like Bihar, UP, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha etc. migrate to Punjab. Migration cannot be stopped as per anyone's wish, it depends on the needs of the ground reality of Punjabis and migrants.
He said that the labour force of migrants also has a big contribution in the progress of Punjab's industrial sector, agriculture sector, construction sector and other sectors. Without migrants, Punjab's economy will become lame. The leaders said that the forces which are accusing migrants of spoiling Punjabi culture should understand that Punjabi language and culture have become one with the soul of the new generation of migrants and have been created in their blood.
They have completely soaked in the love of Punjab's soil. He said that no one has any objection to the Panchayats taking identity cards of migrants and getting them verified, but their right to run their own businesses, buy property, vote and get Aadhaar cards made is their constitutional right which should be maintained.
At the rally, the migrants held their Aadhaar cards high in their hands and said that they are always ready to get their verification done. Some migrant girls also sang Punjabi religious and patriotic songs.