Return of Congress to power - book

Centre state relations with reference to

Punjab

Operation Blue Star 1984:

 In June 1984, Mrs. Gandhi and her advisors decided to take some drastic action against the militants holed up in
the Golden Temple.
 The Akali leadership was becoming more militant and there was a fear of rebellion in the countryside.
 On 3rd June, the army led by General K S Brar, surrounded the Golden Temple and on 5 th June they entered it. But
what was thought to be a quick operation, soon turned into a full-scale battle, which required the army to
deploy tanks in the end.
 Many temple employees and devotees died in the cross fire.
 The Akal Takht was destroyed, and even the temple itself was damaged.
 Among the dead were Bhindranwale and many of his followers like Amrik Singh and Shahbeg Singh(a former
general).
 There was little doubt that the army had seriously underestimated the strength and firepower of the militants.

Impact of Operation Blue Star:

 Operation Blue Star created a deep sense of outrage among the Sikh community all over India.
 It was seen as a sacrilegious act, rather than an unpleasant but necessary effort to deal with the terrorists.
 Even many Sikhs who had not supported Bhindranwale now turned against the government. And on October
31st Mrs Indira Gandhi was assassinated by members of her own Sikh bodyguard.
 Sikh riots: As news of the assassination spread, there erupted a wave of anti-Sikh riots, particularly in the cities
of North India – principally Delhi. The mobs were led by Hindus, (outraged by the killings of their co-religionists
in Punjab) and it was reported that in some cases Congress politicians incited the mobs against the Sikhs. There
was a complete breakdown of law and order – and in some cases the police aided and abetted the perpetrators.
It is estimated that in Delhi alone, at least 2,500 Sikhs were killed. These riots further alienated a large number
ofSikhs from the government.
 The Punjab Accord: Rajiv Gandhi replaced his mother as Prime Minister. He moved quickly to try and solve the
Punjab problem. The jailed Akali leaders were released and an enquiry ordered into the riots. The Akali Dal also
realized that militant politics was a dead end.
 Finally in 1985 the government and Sant Longowal (on behalf of the Akalis) signed an accord. The government
promised to concede some of the demands, and review others. But Longowal was assassinated when he
announced that the Akalis would participate in the elections. Moreover little was done to identify and punish
the perpetrators of the pogrom. (With the revival of militancy, some leaders suspected of having had a hand in
Blue Star operation were murdered, such as General Vaidya who had been Chief of Army Staff at the time of
Blue Star. The militants got support from overseas Sikhs: it was widely believed that the Canadian Sikhs were
behind the blowing up of the Air India jet “Kanishka” in June 1985.)
 In 1985 the Akali Dal won an absolute majority in the state for the first time . But the Surjit Singh Barnala
government was riven by faction fighting, and there were conflicts with Haryana over Chandigarh and the river
waters dispute. Militant groups began to regroup and in 1987, President’s rule was declared in Punjab.
Terrorism in Punjab went on growing, and from 1987, they began a campaign of looting and drugs, rape and
terrorizing the general population.
 The state finally took strong action in 1988, by Operation Black Thunder which once again flushed out the
militants from the Golden Temple, in a better planned operation with little loss of life or damage to property.
 The Narasimha Rao government took a hard line against the terrorists. Many policemen lost their lives, although
it is now accepted that numerous human rights abuses were also committed by the police.
 By 1993 terrorism had been wiped out in Punjab. By then many people had begun to realize that the terrorists
had abused and betrayed their faith and their people – 61% of those killed by the militants, were in fact Sikhs.

Circumstances leading to militancy in Punjab

 After partition the eastern part of the old Punjab province was predominantly Sikh and Hindus.

 Akali Dal began to agitate for the ‘Punjabi Suba’

 It began to project itself as the sole representative of the Sikhs and began to harness religious feelings of the
Sikhs through the SGPC.

 The issue of language was added to the religious faith.

 Akali Dal, despite all efforts, failed to form a government in Punjab, even after the creation of the state of
Punjab.

 In 1973 it passed the Anandpur Sahib Resolution. Some of its demands were to make Chandigarh the capital
of Punjab, declare Amritsar as a holy city etc.

 In 1980 the Akali Dal began to increase its demands after it lost the elections.

 Many Sikhs felt that terrorists violence was the answer.

 In 1980 Congress returned to power. That very year the AISS met in the Golden Temple and proclaimed
Khalistan.

 Parallel to this movement, Bhindranwale preached violence.

 Amrik Singh (head of ASSF) Lala Jagat Narayan (editor of a Hindu newspaper) and Police officer Atwal were
killed. Bhindranwale was behind these murders.

 By 1984 the situation in Punjab worsened.

State the objectives of the Khalistan Movement under the leadership of Akalidal

• In Punjab, a movement started known as the Khalistan movement, which demanded for the creation of a
separate Sikh country. The movement reached its zenith in 1970s and 80s.
 •The demands of the Akali Dal was based on the Anandpur Sahib....
• The resolution had the following objectives:
1. The transfer of the federally administered city of Chandigarh to Punjab
2. The transfer of Punjabi speaking areas of Haryana to Punjab
3. Decentralization of states under the existing constitutions and limiting the central government's role
4. The call for land reforms and industrialization of Punjab, along with safeguarding the rights of the weaker
sections of the population
5. The enactment of an All India Gurudwara Act
6. Protection of minorities residing outside Punjab but within India
7. Increase the number of Sikhs in the armed forces

Consequences of the Khalistan movement

• Since the Akalis do not constitute the entire Sikh population of Punjab, the other Sikhs did not support the Akali
demand
• The Akalis failed to win over the support of the Sikh president of India or even the Sikh Chief minister of the
state of Punjab to their side
• in the 1980s, some members of the Khalistan turned to militancy. This resulted in counter militancy operation by
the Indian Security forces (army)
• In one such operation, Operation Blue Star in June 1984, Indian forces entered the Holy Golden temple to
overpower the militants who took shelter there
• The Operation led to loss of lives on both sides
• The Sikhs started widespread criticism of the Indian Government. Even though the Sikhs who were earlier
against Bhrindran vaale now began to support the cause of the Sikhs.
• In the meantime, the Prime Minister - Mrs. Gandhi was assassinated by her own Sikh bodyguards. After that
large scale disturbances started in North India and a number of Sikhs were killed
• When Rajeev Gandhi became the Prime Minister, a momentous event took place. An agreement called the
Punjab Accord or Rajeev Longowal Accord was signed between Prime Minister Rajeev Gandhi and sant Longowal
(the then President of the Akalidal)
• It was then decided that the Anand puri Sarkaria Commission
• It was also decided that some Hindi speaking areas of Punjab will be transferred to Haryana
• The Punjab Accord recognized the religious, territorial and economic demands of the Sikhs that were thought to
be non-negotiable during Mrs. Gandhi's tenure.

Assam

Briefly discuss the reasons for Assam’s demands for greater autonomy for the state (6)
 The North-East was aggrieved due to unfair treatment by the center for example, neglect of industries, lack of
economic enterprises and even in the allotment of funds.
 It was deprived of its revenue from crude oil, teak and plywood. Assam’s revenue was pumped out of the state.
 Marwadis and Bengalis were controlling the economy of Assam.
 Labour forces were also largely non-Assamise, contributing to unemployment among the Assamise youth.
 There was demand for better connectivity btw North East and the rest of India, for example, bridges over
Brahmaputra, railway up gradation and better road links.
 Even before the independence. there had been a large scale migration from Bihar and Bengal into Assam.
 From 1971 onwards, refuges coded from Bangladesh (East Pakistan), most returned after the creation of
Bangladesh but almost a lack state behind
 Peasant Influx continued in… triggering fear of land loss among Assamese peasants.
 Demographic changes generated cultural, linguistic, political insecurities
 To face the challenge illegal migration from Bangladesh. In 1979, All Assam students union (AASU) and Assam
Gana Sangram Parishad (Assamese people’s Struggle was organized)
  In 1983, elections to State Legislative Assemblies were organized. It was marked large scale migration.
 A large numbers of eligible Assamese voters boycotted it. Congress however formed the government. By-
elections showed an increase in the no. of voters
 The main demand of the people of Assam, was the identification of the non-Assamese by the Central
government

Response of the Central Government to the agitation

 On 15th August 1985, Rajeev Gandhi (the then Prime Minister) signed an accord with AASU (All Assam Students
Union) and Assam Jana Parishad
 All immigrants that had entered between 1951 - 1961 were given citizenship including political rights.
 Those who entered 1961 - 1971 were denied voting rights for 10 years, but other rights were to be granted
 Economic package was put in place for the development of Assam
 Second Oil refinery, a paper mill and an institute for technology were to be set up
 Safeguards to protect cultural, social and linguistic heritage were drafted
 1986 Laldenga came back from exile and signed an accord with the Central Government
 According to the terms, the insurgents agreed -
1. To abandon violence
2. They were granted amnesty (to grant pardon)
3. Government of India
4. It guaranteed full autonomy in culture, land laws and traditions
5. Former insurgents now entered the election process
 In 1987 Laldenga became the First Chief Minister of Mizoram and it attained full statehood in 1987 :D….wow
 By 1999, Mizoram had overtaken Kerala as India's most literate state
1. Q) when did Mizoram attain full statehood? First CM?
2. Q) When did it become a union territory? 1973
3. Q) Full form of MNF? Mizo National Front

Nagaland

 The Nagas were inhabitants of the Naga hills along the borders with Burma
 They consisted of a group of different tribes speaking different languages
 During the British rule they had been isolated from the rest of the country
 But the British allowed missionary activities to take place there and several tribes converted to Christianity.
 The result was a small educated group among them
 In 1946 a group of educate Nagas formed the National Naga Council (NNC) and called for self determination and
unity among the Nagas
 Immediately after Independence the Indian government fill red a policy of integrating the Naga areas within
India
 The Pro Independence faction led by Angami Zapur Phizo opposed this policy and posed a rebellion in 1951
 The government of Indian followed a two track policy - on one hand, Nehru told the Naga leaders including
Phizo that while Independence was not an option, the Nagas would be granted greater autonomy; on the other
hand
 Towards a violent insurgency, however the government would follow a policy of harsh suppression
 In 1952-53, the NNC leadership had gone underground. The police raided homes and villages, further alienating
locals and villagers
 In 1955, the seperatist Nagas formed a of an independent government
 the Indian government send the army to Nagaland to flush out the rebels. The army's ruthlessness earned the
hatred of many Nagas
 On the other hand Prime Minister Nehru realized that the Government had to follow a conciliatory approach as
well so he encouraged he Nagas to integrate with the rest of India
 The Indian government refused to negotiate with Phizo and his supporters as long as they refused to give up
violence
 Phizo and his group went underground and the struggle continued with Human Rights abuses on both sides
 By 1957 the armed rebellion had been broken. A group of moderate Nagas under Dr. Imkongliba came to force

Mizoram

 The Mizo districts of the Lushai hills were autonomous within Assam. However separatist sentiments were
developing among the population
 The main cause of dissatisfaction was lack of relief measures by the Assam government during a famine in 1955
and the states language policy (that Assamese would be the language) led to the setting up of Mizo National
Front (MNF) led by Laldenga.
 While some Mizos continued to participate in electoral politics , MNF received arms and training from East
Pakistan and China.
 In February 1966, MNF started an Armed Campaign for independence and attacked  government officers and
looted banks, etc
 The government responded with massive counter insurgency measures, including thr army and the airforce.
Quite often civilians also became victims.
 Although the uprising was crushed, the insurgents fought for the next 20 years, taking shelter in the
neighbouring states like Burma and east Pakistan.
 In 1973, the less extremist Mizo leaders had scaled down their demands, the region was made a union territory.
 Both sides realizes the futality?fatality? of armed struggles