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Hindustan Times
25-07-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
40 years on, Punjab Accord remains a missed opportunity
Signed 40 years ago, the Rajiv Gandhi-Longowal Accord --- a landmark agreement in Indian political history aimed at bringing peace and normalcy to Punjab --- is seen as a case of 'missed opportunity' to address the border state's long-standing issues through dialogue and negotiation. The pact was inked on July 24, 1985 in New Delhi between Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and Shiromani Akali Dal president Sant Harchand Singh Longowal. (HT File) The pact, inked on July 24, 1985 in New Delhi between then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and Shiromani Akali Dal president Sant Harchand Singh Longowal, was seen as an attempt by the Centre to reconnect with Punjab and its people who were feeling alienated and resolve state' pending matters. The accord, however, faced stiff opposition from both within Punjab and neighbouring Haryana, resulting in implementation challenges. Some of the key provisions of the accord were: Transferring Chandigarh to Punjab, establishing a commission to resolve the boundary dispute between Punjab and Haryana, establishing a tribunal to address the Ravi-Beas river water-sharing dispute, providing compensation for those affected by the violence and addressing grievances of the Sikh community. According to the experts, the Punjab accord was not successful due to poor follow-through, political opposition, trust deficit, and assassination of Longowal. Sikh radicals and some hardline factions of the Akali Dal considered the accord a 'sell-out' and a betrayal of the Sikh struggle for greater autonomy and the Anandpur Sahib Resolution. They opposed provisions like the rehabilitation of army deserters rather than exonerating them, and believed the accord failed to address their core demands effectively. The fierce opposition by Sikh radicals culminating in the assassination of Longowal, less than a month after the accord was signed, resulting in resurgence of violence and instability. Political divisions within the Akali Dal further compounded the problems. Gurcharan Singh Tohra and Parkash Singh Badal, key figures in the Akali Dal, opposed several clauses of the accord, believing it didn't fully represent the interests of the Sikh community. Also, politicians and sections of the population in Haryana strongly opposed the accord, particularly the transfer of Chandigarh to Punjab without a clear and timely resolution of territorial claims for Haryana in return. They were also unhappy with the proposals regarding the sharing of Ravi-Beas river waters and the consideration of the Anandpur Sahib Resolution, which they felt was at the root of the problem in Punjab. 'The accord could have brought lasting peace and federal balance but instead deepened alienation and prolonged conflict in Punjab,' says Dr Pramod Kumar who heads institute of development and communication, Chandigarh. 'Also, the pact could not be implemented because Rajiv Gandhi lost interest within a few months of signing it due to political considerations in Haryana,' adds Kumar. 'At the very onset, when the Centre proposed the accord, I told Rajiv Gandhi that any pact with the Akalis should be jointly signed with Longowal, Parkash Singh Badal and Gurcharan Singh Tohra to make it successful', said former Rajya Sabha member Tarlochan Singh. 'The accord was a double betrayal for Punjab as Longowal was allured into signing the accord and it was never implemented as the government didn't have the will,' says SAD leader Mahesh Inder Singh Grewal. 'The accord mentioned that Chandigarh would be transferred to Punjab on January 26, 1986. But it never happened, and Punjabis felt cheated,' he added. Amanpreet Singh Gill, a professor of political science in Khalsa College, New Delhi, says: 'The accord was a breakthrough but was unfortunately misinterpreted.' 'Immediately after the accord, when Longowal started explaining benefits of the accord among the masses, it generated a positive response. But within four weeks of signing of the accord, he was killed. Punjab saw another spell of turmoil until the early 1990s. It lost the chance to re-emerge,' said Prof Balkar Singh, former head of Guru Granth Sahib institute, Patiala.
Indian Express
25-07-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
July 25, 1985, Forty Years Ago: Historic Accord
The problem of Punjab, which has spawned some of the bloodiest events in the country's history in the last four years, has at long last been solved. PM Rajiv Gandhi and Akali Dal chief Harchand Singh Longowal signed an agreement that includes the transfer of Chandigarh to Punjab and some Hindi-speaking areas to Haryana, rehabilitation of those discharged from the Army and reference of the Anandpur Sahib Resolution to the Sarkaria Commission. Scenes of Joy Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi's announcement regarding the Punjab accord was generally welcomed by the common man. Scenes of jubilation were witnessed outside the Indian Express office, where Sikhs were seen embracing Hindus with joy. There were reports from different parts of the Capital of people distributing sweets after the announcement. Leaders Hail Accord Leaders of several political parties, parliamentarians and eminent citizens hailed the accord. Punjab Governor Arjun Singh, who was present in the Speaker's gallery when the announcement was made, expressed his 'deepest pleasure'. More than 50 MPs from different parts of the country in a joint statement said the accord would put an end to the era of confrontation and uncertainty and usher in an era of peace, prosperity and progress. Sacking Staff The Supreme Court has held that a government servant can be dismissed, removed or demoted without an opportunity to explain his case under Article 311 (2) (b) of the Constitution if it was in public interest. The principle that a person should get an opportunity to be heard before action is taken against him ('natural justice') can be modified and in exceptional cases even excluded, a Constitution bench has ruled.
Indian Express
17-06-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
June 17, 1985, Forty Years Ago: Indo-US statement
India and the United States will maintain close cooperation to combat 'the international dimensions of terrorist violence against India' and broaden their ties through a programme of research covering agriculture, medicine and science. These major decisions were set up in a joint communique issued at the end of PM Rajiv Gandhi's visit to the US. The joint statement is quiet on the differences over the supply of sophisticated weaponry by the US to Pakistan and Pakistan's nuclear programme. Longowal Clarifies THE AKALI DAL (L) president, Harchand Singh Longowal, has said his party was prepared to reconsider the Anandpur Sahib Resolution if 'Hindus have any apprehensions about it'. The resolution did not put forth the demand for a 'Khalistan', he said. Longowal said that the Akali Dal (L) was committed to the unity and integrity of the country. Reagan On Hijackers HIJACKERS WHO KILLED one passenger aboard a TWA jetliner flew back to Beirut with about 40 American hostages still on board, renewing threats to detonate the plane unless Israel releases 50 Shia Muslim guerrilla prisoners. They had earlier sought the release of all such prisoners in Israeli prisons. Ronald Reagan said the US government had been in touch with governments of Israel and Lebanon. Ceasefire in Sri Lanka There was speculation that Sri Lanka's long-drawn separatist war would end this week with most of the Tamil guerrillas and government forces observing a ceasefire, official sources said. National Security Minister Lalith Athulathmudali signalled an early ceasefire, saying that the settlement process was likely to begin within a week.
Mint
04-05-2025
- Politics
- Mint
‘You create fear among Sikhs…': Man confronts Rahul Gandhi in US, Congress MP replies, ‘happy to take responsibility'
Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi was at a student interaction at the Brown University in the US, when he was seemingly confronted by a young Sikh man, who accused the Congress leader of 'creating a fear among Sikhs'. At an interaction at the Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs at Brown University two weeks ago, Gandhi was told, 'You create a fear among Sikhs about what BJP would look like, you talked about how politics should be fearless… we don't just want to wear 'kadas', we don't just want to tie turbans… we want freedom of expression, which has not been allowed under the Congress Party in the past.' The young man was referring to Gandhi's earlier statement that 'the fight in India is about whether a Sikh is going to be allowed to wear a turban, whether a Sikh will be allowed to wear a 'kada' or go to the Gurudwara'. In a video now going viral on social media, the same Sikh man can be heard talking about the Anandpur Sahib Resolution, which he says talks about Dalit rights and mentions nothing of separatism, but the then Congress still labelled it a separatist document. While referring to former Congress leader Sajjan Kumar, who was convicted of murder linked to the 1984 riots, the Sikh man said, 'This is something your party has done, your party seems to lack the maturity to accept the mistakes it has made,' adding, 'Many more Sajjan Kumars are sitting in Congress Party'. Finally, the man asked Gandhi, 'You tell us to fear what the 'BJP India' would look like, but you haven't tried to reconcile with the Sikhs. What attempts are you making, because if you continue like this, BJP is also going to make its way into Punjab.' Gandhi responded to every statement the Sikh man had put up during the Q&A session. First, Gandhi clarified his 'fight in India for Sikhs' statement by saying, 'The statement I made was that do we want an India where people are uncomfortable to express their religion?' Second, he responded to the Sikh man's comments on the grand old party's past mistakes. 'As far as mistakes of Congress Party are concerned, a lot of those happened when I was not there, but I am more than happy to take responsibility for everything the Congress party has ever done wrong in its history,' Rahul Gandhi said. 'I have publicly stated that what happened in the 80s was wrong, I have been to the Golden Temple multiple times, I have extremely good relationships with the Sikh community in India,' he added. The Indira Gandhi government had crushed a separatist movement in Punjab, when the Indian Army had stormed the premises of the Golden Temple in Amritsar, during 'Operation Blue Star', in 1984. The leader of the separatist movement, Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, a radical preacher, was killed in the operation. This Army operation, inside one of the holiest sites for Sikhism, had sparked massive unrest and resentment among the community. Months later, Indira Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi's grandmother, was assassinated by her Sikh bodyguards. Massive and violent riots against Sikhs broke out across the country after her assassination. Several Congress leaders are accused of having fuelled the violence. According to government estimates, over 3,000 Sikhs were killed in Delhi and elsewhere. Senior BJP leader Amit Malviya, while sharing the video on his account on X, said that 'it is quite unprecedented that Rahul Gandhi is now being ridiculed not just in India, but around the world.' 'You haven't reconciled with the Sikhs,' a young man tells Rahul Gandhi to his face, reminding him of the unfounded fear-mongering he engaged in during his last visit to the US,' Malviya wrote in his post. Tuhin A Sinha, BJP's national spokesperson, also slammed the Congress leader in a post on X. 'The ignorant dynast is seen struggling for an answer. This is how RG's pack of lies will get exposed on every issue!' he wrote. First Published: 4 May 2025, 06:46 PM IST
India Today
04-05-2025
- Politics
- India Today
Happy to take responsibility: Rahul Gandhi's reply to Sikh man on 1984 riots
In a rare admission, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi acknowledged the Congress party's role in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, saying he is willing to "take responsibility for everything the Congress party has ever done wrong in its history"—even for events that occurred before his political career comments came during a charged Q&A session at the Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs at Brown University in the United States, where Rahul Gandhi was confronted by a Sikh attendee questioning the Congress party's past actions, including the labelling of the Anandpur Sahib Resolution as separatist and the political shielding of individuals accused in the riots. advertisement'You haven't tried to reconcile with the Sikhs,' the man said, pointing to figures like Sajjan Kumar and KPS Gill. 'Yet you ask us to fear what BJP's India would look like?' Rahul Gandhi responded, 'First of all, I don't think anything scares the Sikhs A lot of those mistakes happened when I was not there, but I'm more than happy to take responsibility for everything the Congress party has ever done wrong in its history.'He added, 'I have publicly stated that what happened in the 80s was wrong. I've been to the Golden Temple multiple times. I have an extremely good and loving relationship with the Sikh community.'Reacting to Rahul Gandhi's remarks on the 1984 anti-Sikh riots during his US visit, BJP's Amit Malviya posted on X, 'You haven't reconciled with the Sikhs,' a young man tells Rahul Gandhi to his face, reminding him of the unfounded fear-mongering he engaged in during his last visit to the US. It is quite unprecedented that Rahul Gandhi is now being ridiculed not just in India, but around the world.'advertisementThe moment marks one of Rahul Gandhi's clearest acknowledgements of historical wrongs committed by his party, amid continuing calls for accountability and justice from India's Sikh community.
