Punjab
Year: 2004
Targets: People from Bihar, Uttar Pradesh

In November 2004, radical outfits like the Dal Khalsa resorted to a state-wide agitation protesting against the influx of migrants, essentially from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. Hundreds of activists took to the streets in Ludhiana, demanding a migration policy to avoid a drain on the state economy. The protests continued for a few days and spread to Jalandhar. Such organisations have been adopting an anti-migrant stand in line with the party policy.

Karnataka
Year: 1960s
Targets: Tamils, Malayalees

In the early 1960s a pro-Kannada movement was launched by a local leader, Vatal Nagaraj, against people from Tamil Nadu and Kerala being employed in PSUs. A 1963 Tamil film depicting the humiliation of a local king at a Pallava court is said to have accentuated discontent. In 1982 the Sarojini Mahishi Committee Report recommended 100 per cent group D jobs in the state for Kannadigas and the government’s reluctance to implement it resulted in one of the biggest pro-Kannada agitations in the state. The late Kannada filmstar Rajkumar was at the helm of protests and five Tamils were killed.

Year: 1991/2000
Targets: Tamils

The dispute over sharing of the Cauvery river water with Tamil Nadu saw violence against Tamil migrants across the state, with as many as 23 people killed in police firing and mob violence. Property loss of nearly Rs 20 crore was reported. A brief spell of violence against Tamils was also witnessed in August 2000 following the kidnapping of Rajkumar in Tamil Nadu by forest brigand Veerappan.

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