Question

Which of the following statements about the Anandpur Sahib Resolution are correct?

1. It sought that residuary powers be vested in the states.

2. It wanted the Centre’s jurisdiction limited to four specific subjects.

3. It recommended abolishing the Planning Commission.

• A. 1 and 2 only
• B. 2 and 3 only
• C. 1 and 3 only
• D. All are correct

Answer 1

Answer:

A. 1 and 2 only

The Anandpur Sahib Resolution

• The Anandpur Sahib Resolution was a comprehensive document adopted by the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) in 1973 at Anandpur Sahib, Punjab.

• It primarily articulated the political, religious, economic, and social demands of the Sikh community and the state of Punjab, aiming for a significant restructuring of Centre-State relations in India.

Key Demands Regarding Centre-State Relations:

• It strongly advocated for greater autonomy for states, proposing a fundamental shift towards a truly federal structure in India.

• A core demand was that the Centre’s jurisdiction be strictly limited to only four subjects:

  • Defence,

  • Foreign Affairs,

  • Communications, and

  • Currency.

  All other subjects were proposed to fall under the exclusive legislative and executive domain of the states.

• The resolution explicitly sought that residuary powers be vested in the states, a significant departure from the Indian Constitution where residuary powers lie with the Union (Centre).

Other Significant Demands (Contextual):

• The resolution also included religious demands, such as the declaration of Amritsar as a 'holy city' and the promulgation of an All India Gurdwaras Act.

• Economic demands included a greater share of river waters for Punjab and the transfer of Chandigarh to Punjab.

• It sought the inclusion of Punjabi-speaking areas that were left out of Punjab during the 1966 reorganization.

Misconceptions and Clarifications:

• It is important to note that the Anandpur Sahib Resolution did not recommend abolishing the Planning Commission. Its focus was on legislative and financial autonomy for states, not on dismantling national economic planning bodies.

• While often viewed by critics as a precursor to demands for a separate Sikh state (Khalistan), the Akali Dal consistently maintained that the resolution sought only greater autonomy for states within the Indian Union, advocating for a federal system where states have more powers.

Historical Significance:

• The resolution played a significant role in escalating tensions between the Akali Dal and the central government, particularly during the late 1970s and early 1980s.

• It became a major point of contention and contributed to the political unrest in Punjab, leading up to the period of insurgency.

• The issues raised by the Anandpur Sahib Resolution, concerning state autonomy and Centre-State relations, were later deliberated by various commissions, including the Sarkaria Commission (established in 1983), which examined the relationship and balance of power between the Union and State governments