Question

Choose the correct statement(s) regarding the Anandpur Sahib Resolution.
(i) It was adopted by the Akali Dal in 1973 and demanded that the Centre’s jurisdiction be limited to defence, foreign affairs, communications, and currency.
(ii) It proposed that the Constitution should be federal, ensuring equal authority and representation for all states at the Centre.
(iii) The resolution was fully endorsed by the Central government.

• A. Only (i) and (ii)
• B. Only (i) and (iii)
• C. Only (ii) and (iii)
• D. All the above (i, ii, iii)

Answer 1

Answer:

A. Only (i) and (ii)

Anandpur Sahib Resolution

• Adoption: The Anandpur Sahib Resolution was adopted by the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) in 1973 at Anandpur Sahib, Punjab.
• Core Demand for Autonomy: It primarily advocated for a significant restructuring of Centre-state relations in India, demanding greater autonomy for states within the Indian Union.
• Limited Central Jurisdiction: The resolution specifically proposed that the Union Government's jurisdiction should be strictly limited to only four crucial subjects: defence, foreign affairs, communications, and currency. All other powers, including residuary subjects, were to be vested with the states.
• Federal Structure Emphasis: It strongly emphasized the need for India to adopt a genuinely federal Constitution. This was aimed at ensuring equal authority and representation for all states at the Centre, thereby strengthening the federal character of the Indian polity.
• Nature of Demands: While seen by some as radical, the resolution was articulated as a demand for more autonomy within the Indian federal framework, rather than outright secession. It sought a more decentralized structure of governance.
• Central Government's Stance: Contrary to the resolution being fully endorsed, the Central Government, especially under Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, viewed its demands with significant apprehension. It was largely interpreted as a move towards separatism or a weakening of national unity and was therefore not accepted or endorsed by the Centre.
• Historical Context: The resolution became a pivotal document in the political landscape of Punjab during the 1970s and 1980s, serving as a basis for Akali Dal's agitations for state autonomy and contributing to the complex political and social dynamics in the region, including the rise of extremism.
• Related Movements: Demands for greater state autonomy were not unique to Punjab; similar calls emerged from other states, such as Tamil Nadu (e.g., through the Rajamannar Committee report in 1971), highlighting a broader national debate on Centre-state relations during that period.