MLA seeks Speaker’s permission to introduce Private Member’s Bill

Sukhpal Singh Khaira, MLA from Bholath Assembly constituency, has formally requested Punjab Vidhan Sabha Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan, to permit the introduction of a Private Member’s Bill aimed at regulating land ownership, voter registration and access to state government jobs based on domicile requirements.

The proposed legislation is inspired by similar frameworks in Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Gujarat, which impose restrictions on the purchase of agricultural land and certain public entitlements to protect regional interests.

In a letter submitted to the Speaker, MLA Khaira cited concerns over what was described as “rapid demographic shifts” in Punjab, driven by large-scale emigration of Punjabi youth and the steady influx of migrant populations from other Indian states. The legislator referenced a 2021–2023 survey by Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) indicating that assets worth over Rs 5,600 crore were sold and Rs 14,000 crore borrowed to fund overseas migration. The letter also highlighted changes in the local voter base in areas like Jagatpura and Mohali, where non-native residents now reportedly form a majority of the electorate.

The legislator emphasised that the Bill does not oppose migrant labour or temporary residence, but seeks to establish legal safeguards to preserve Punjab’s linguistic, cultural and economic fabric. The statement noted that in the absence of such protections, the state’s long-term residents—particularly in rural areas—may face increasing economic displacement and erosion of cultural identity.

The MLA also raised concerns over the recent release of river waters by the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB), which they argue was done without adequate consultations with Punjab’s leadership. This, they asserted, underscores the need for those with a sustained and rooted connection to Punjab to guide resource-related decisions.