Chapter - 7
Regional aspirations
Indian Government's View
- The decade of 1980s is known as the decade of demand for autonomy . During these 10 years , demand for autonomy was raised in many parts of the country . Many times constitutional limits were crossed. People even took up arms in support of their demands . Thousands of people lost their lives .
- To put an end to these conflicts , the government adopted the path of dialogue .
- India is a country where there are many diversity religion , caste , colour , culture , languages , customs , practices attitude is different in such separatism and regionalism , regional aspirations are inevitable but the attitude of the Government of India is very good
- Regionalism and regionalism have been tried to be resolved through dialogue . Despite India having so much diversity , people still have feelings of nationalism
- Nationalism maintains unity among people . In Europe , cultural diversity is seen as a threat to the nation , but the view of the Indian government is different . We do not consider cultural diversity as a threat .
India has adopted a democratic approach to the question of diversity . In democracy , political expression of regional aspirations is allowed . There is freedom for any party to represent the sentiments of the people on the basis of regional problems .
- The government pays special attention to regional issues and problems while formulating policies . Sometimes it may happen that regional aspirations come in the way of national unity . In such a case , the government wants to take a decision after careful consideration .
The range of stress
- The main problems faced by the country immediately after independence were partition, problem of princely states , displacement,
- National and international observers believed that India would not survive as a nation for long .
- After that the issue of Jammu and Kashmir came up
- Kashmir has been a matter of dispute between India and Pakistan
- Aspirations of the people of Kashmir
- Separatism in Kashmir
- There is disagreement among the northeastern states on being a part of India
- Demand for separatism arose in Nagaland and Mizoram
1. South India:- Dravin movement went on. In the Dravin movement , Hindi language was opposed in Tamil Nadu and Tamil language was given importance
2. Jammu and Kashmir: - Manypeoplelost theirlivesinthe violenceinJammu andKashmir ,manyfamilieswere displaced . JammuandKashmircomprisesthreepoliticalandsocialregions. PeopleofmanyreligionsMuslims,Hindus,SikhsliveinKashmir.
3. Ladakh : Buddhists and Muslims also live in Ladakh . People of Kashmir consider themselves Kashmiris first . Issue of autonomy of Jammu and Kashmir
The roots of the problem in Kashmir
- Before 1947 , Jammu and Kashmir was a princely state ruled by a Hindu ruler named Hari Singh . They did not want to join India and wanted to remain independent . Pakistan felt that since most of the population was Muslim , Jammu and Kashmir would join Pakistan , but the people here consider themselves Kashmiris first .
- The movement was led by Sheikh Abdullah . The Sheikh wanted the King to step down . The National Conference was a secular organization .
- In 1947 , Pakistan sent intruders to capture Kashmir . The Maharaja of Kashmir was forced to ask for help from the Indian Army. The Indian Army provided help . The Indian government made the Maharaja sign the Instrument of Accession and also said that a referendum would be held once the situation normalized .
- In March 1948 , Sheikh Abdullah became the Prime Minister of Jammu and Kashmir . India agreed to maintain the autonomy of Kashmir. Under Article 370 , this state was given special rights . This state also had a separate constitution .
- In 2019 , the Modi government has removed Article 370 from Jammu and Kashmir . Its special status has also been lost . Ladakh has been made a union territory without an assembly . Jammu and Kashmir has been made a union territory with an assembly
Punjab and its problems
- Haryana and Himachal Pradesh were formed from Punjab . In 1966 , the state of Punjab was reorganized . Akali Dal was formed here in the 1920s . Akali Dal led a movement for the formation of Punjab province . Punjabi speaking Sikhs were in majority in the province .
Political context
- Akali Dal formed government in 1967 and 1977 , both times coalition government was formed
- The central government dismissed the Akali Dal government before its tenure
- Akali Dal had less support from Hindus . Sikh community was also divided on caste and class lines . Congress had more support from Akalis .
- In 1970 , a section of the Akalis demanded autonomy for Punjab . Anandpur Sahib Resolution raised the demand for regional autonomy . It sought to influence centre - state relations .
- It declared the supremacy of Sikhs but it is also seen as a demand for a separate Sikh nation . This proposal has little impact on the Sikh community .
- In 1980, the Akali Dal government was dismissed. The Akali Dal started a movement on the issue of water sharing between Punjab and the neighbouring states. Some even demanded to separate from India and create a separate nation Khalistan.
Cycle of violence in Punjab
- The movement took the form of an armed rebellion. The militants made the Golden Temple in Amritsar their headquarters. The Golden Temple turned into an armed fortress.
- The government launched Operation Blue Star in June 1984. The government routed the militants but it caused damage to the Golden Temple, which Sikhs saw as an attack on their religious faith.
Sikhs were angry because their religious sentiments were hurt . A few days later , on 31 October , Indira Gandhi was shot dead by her two bodyguards . This was the revenge of Operation Blue Star .
- He was Indira 's bodyguard . The entire country went into mourning because of this incident . A wave of violence started in Delhi and the states of North India . Sikhs were hunted down and killed . Most of the Sikhs were killed in Delhi . Sikhs were also killed in other parts of the country . In 2005 , Manmohan Singh expressed regret over this incident in the Parliament .
towards peace
- After the 1984 elections , the new Prime Minister came to power . Rajiv Gandhi became the Prime Minister .
1. Akali Dal – President – Harchand Singh Longowal
2. Congress - Rajiv Gandhi
Punjab Accord
- Chandigarh will be given to Punjab
- Commission will be formed to resolve the border dispute between Punjab and Haryana
- A judicial authority will be set up regarding the sharing of river water between Punjab , Haryana and Rajasthan
- People affected by militancy will be given compensation
- The Special Security Force Act will be withdrawn in Punjab
- But peace did not prevail even after the agreement
- The violence continued for about 10 years
- Akali Dal split
- In 1992, elections were held in Punjab, only 24% people voted
- The army suppressed the insurgency but the people suffered a lot
- Peace was restored in Punjab in the intervening years of the 1990s
- In 1997, the Akali Dal (Badal) and BJP alliance won the elections
Northeast States
- Regional aspirations emerged in the 1980s
- They are called Seven Streams because of having 7 states
- The region is bordered by China , Myanmar and Bangladesh
- This region is the gateway to South East Asia for India
- Tripura , Manipur , Khasi hill area of Meghalaya were earlier separate princely states
- After independence they were included in the Indian Union
- There was a large scale state reorganization in the northeastern state
- Nagaland became a state in 1963
- Meghalaya , Manipur , Tripura became states in 1972
- Arunachal Pradesh and Mizoram became states in 1987
- North Eastern States The states of India could not develop
- This area was isolated from the rest of India
Demand for autonomy
- At the time of independence , except Manipur and Tripura , the entire area was known as Assam . The Assam government was imposing Assamese on non - Assamese people , which was opposed and autonomy was demanded .
- There were protests and riots . Leaders of the major tribal groups wanted secession from Assam . They formed the Eastern India Tribal Union . This changed into the more comprehensive All Party Hills in 1960. It demanded the creation of a tribal state separate from Assam .
- The government made this place a multi - tribal state
1. Assam
2. Meghalaya
3. Mizoram
4. Arunachal Pradesh
- Tripura and Mizoram were also given statehood . The North - East was reorganized by 1972 , but the demand for autonomy did not end there . Assam , Bordo , Karbi , Dimsa communities held a referendum demanding separate statehood , agitations were carried out , insurgent actions were taken , but it was not possible to continue forming small states .
Separatist Movement
- The demand for a separate country was a threat to the integrity of the country . It was difficult to deal with this demand . The demand for separatism arose in two states of the Northeast . The Mizo hilly region was made an autonomous district within Assam. The Mizo people also believed that they were never a part of British India and hence they had no connection with the Indian Union .
- In 1959 there was a famine in the Mijo hilly areas , the government of Assam was not able to deal with the famine , and the people were upset because of this , the people supported the demand for separatism .
Indian Army and Mizo Rebellion
- This war lasted for two decades . The Mizo National Front waged a guerilla war .
Movement against outsiders
- There have been massive immigrants in the Northeast . This has created a particular problem .
- The local people consider them as ' outsiders ' and are angry against these ' outsiders ' .
- People coming from other states of India or other countries are seen as rivals by the people here in terms of employment opportunities and political power .
- The local people believe that the people who have come from outside are taking over the land . In many states of the Northeast , this issue has taken a political colour and sometimes violent incidents also take place due to these things .
- The Assamese people suspected that a large Muslim population had come from Bangladesh and settled in Assam .
- If these foreigners are not identified and sent back to their country , the local Assamese population will become a minority .
- Assam had widespread poverty despite the presence of natural resources such as oil , tea and coal .
- The people here believed that the natural resources of Assam are being exported and the Assamese people are not getting any benefit .
In 1979 , the All Assam Students Union ( AASU ) launched an agitation against foreigners .
- ASU was a student organization and was not affiliated with any political party .
- The movement of ' AASU ' was against illegal immigration , dominance of Bengalis and others and registration of names of lakhs of immigrants in voters list .
- The movement demanded that all the people who had settled in Assam after 1951 should be sent out of Assam . This movement received support throughout Assam .
- Violent and tragic incidents also took place during the movement . Many people lost their lives and there was loss of property . During the movement, attempts were also made to stop the movement of trains and the supply of oil to the refinery .
- After six years of continuous instability , the Rajiv Gandhi - led government started talks with the ' ASU ' leaders . This resulted in a settlement in 1985 .
- Under the agreement , it was decided that people who had come to Assam from Bangladesh during Buddha Yatra or the years thereafter would be identified and deported .
- After the success of the movement , ' AASU ' and Assam Gana Sangram Parishad together organized themselves as a regional political party . This party was named ' Assam Gana Parishad ' .
- The Asom Gana Parishad came to power in 1985 with the promise of solving the foreigners ' problem and creating a ' Golden Assam ' .
