Chandigarh: In a move likely to ignite debate across political and civil society circles, senior Congress leader and Bholath MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira has urged the Speaker of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha to allow the introduction of a Private Member’s Bill aimed at restricting land ownership, voting rights, and government employment for non-Punjabis in the state.
In a letter addressed to Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan, Khaira cited growing demographic concerns, cultural erosion, and economic insecurity as grounds for urgent legislative intervention. He called for a law modelled on the Himachal Pradesh Tenancy and Land Reforms Act, 1972, and similar policies enacted in Uttarakhand and Gujarat, which restrict outsiders from purchasing land or accessing certain state rights without meeting specific criteria.
Khaira warned that Punjab is facing a “demographic vacuum” due to the mass emigration of Punjabi youth and an increasing influx of migrants from other Indian states. He pointed to a recent study by Punjab Agricultural University, which reported that over ₹5,600 crore worth of assets were sold and ₹14,300 crore borrowed by Punjabis to fund migration abroad between 2021 and 2023, with over 73% of migrants leaving after 2016.
“The unchecked inflow of non-Punjabis endangers our mother tongue, Punjabi, as well as our heritage, religious values, and social cohesion,” the letter stated. Khaira raised specific alarm over villages like Jagatpura in Mohali, where he claimed non-Punjabi voters now vastly outnumber locals.
The Congress MLA also expressed concern over the recent exodus of non-Punjabi migrant workers due to fears of war, suggesting this reflected a lack of long-term commitment to the state. Additionally, Khaira criticized the Bhakra Beas Management Board’s recent release of Punjab’s river waters, arguing that decisions of such magnitude could be influenced by a growing non-local population, unless protective laws are enacted.
Khaira’s proposal includes setting legal prerequisites for owning agricultural land, registering to vote, or applying for government jobs in Punjab, limiting these rights to individuals with verified and long-term ties to the state.
The letter underscores that similar protective laws in neighbouring states have been upheld as essential for preserving cultural identity and local livelihoods. “Punjab must follow suit to secure its future,” Khaira wrote.
While emphasizing that the Bill is not intended to oppose economic migrants earning a living in the state, Khaira said permanent settlement without safeguards could reduce native Punjabis—especially Sikhs—to a minority within 20 to 25 years.
He concluded the letter by reminding the Speaker that he had first submitted the draft Bill in January 2023, and requested its urgent tabling in the upcoming Vidhan Sabha session.
The proposal is expected to trigger political, legal, and constitutional scrutiny, especially over concerns of discrimination and potential conflicts with Article 15 and 16 of the Indian Constitution, which prohibit discrimination on grounds of place of birth and ensure equal opportunity in public employment.