Politics In India Since Independence Chapter 8 Regional Aspirations

(b) Movements for greater autonomy -Assam

(c) Movements for separate national existence -Mizoram and Nagaland See map given below :

(i) Chandigarh would be transferred to Punjab.

(ii) A separate commission would be appointed to resolve the border dispute between Punjab and Haryana.

(iii) A tribunal would be set up to decide the sharing of Ravi-Beas river water among Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan.

(iv) Compensation would be provided to and better treatment of those affected by the militancy in Punjab.

(v) It was also agreed that the application of Armed Forces Special Powers Act in Punjab would be withdrawn.

The provisions of the Punjab Accord can be the basis for further tensions between the Punjab and the neighboring States of Haryana and Rajasthan because the main disputes regarding Chandigarh and Ravi-Beas water were not decided by the accord. These were deferred and were to be decided by the commission or tribunal to be appointment later. That is why the question of Chandigarh has yet not been decided. 

(i) Kashmir valley : It is heart of the region. The people are Kashmiri speaking and mostly Muslim with a small Kashmiri speaking Hindu minority.

(ii) Jammu : This region is a mix of foothills and plains, of Hindus, Muslims and Sikhs and speakers of various languages.

(iii) Ladakh : This region is mountainous. It has very little population which is equally divided between Buddhists and Muslims.

The internal divisions of the State of Jammu and Kashmir have led to multiple regional aspirations in the State as explained below :

(i) The Kashmiri people want a separate Kashmiri nation, independent of India and Pakistan. There are also groups that want Kashmir to merge with Pakistan. There is a third group which favours great autonomy for the people of the state within the Indian Union.

(ii) The regions of Jammu and Ladakhs are also in favour of autonomy but that is due to neglect and backwardness .Thus, there are divergent political aspirations in the State.

(i) There is a section of people outside of J & K that believes that the special status of the State conferred by Article 370 does not allow full integration of the State with India. This section feels that Article 370 should, therefore, be revoked and J & K should be like any other State in India.

(ii) The second section, mostly Kashmir is believe that the autonomy conferred by Article 370 is not enough.

(iii) Another section of Kashmiris has put forward following three grievances :

(a) The promise that Accession would be referred to the people of the State after the situation created by the tribal invasion was normalised has not been fulfilled. They have generated the demand for a ‘plebiscite’.

(b) It is argued that the federal status guaranteed by Article 370 has been eroded in practice. They want restoration of autonomy or ‘Greater State Autonomy’.

(c) The third grievance is that democracy which is practiced in the rest of India has not been similarly institutionalised in the State of Jammu and Kashmir.

There is a prevalent belief that 370 does not allow full integration of the State with India, it should be revoked. Kashmir is an integral part of India and many free and fair elections have been conducted in the State. Thus, it should be like any other State in India. People from all over India should be allowed to settle there and have right to property.

In practice, the separatist demands were not fulfilled in Kashmir, Punjab and North-East region. On the other hand, no separatist demands were put forward by other regional movements. In Assam, the tribal communities demanded a tribal state to be carved out of Assam. This led to creation of Meghalaya, Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh. The Assam movement from 1979 to 1985 was against ‘outsiders’ to protect their culture and against their backwardness. In all the above cases, the problem was solved within the constitutional framework.

Hence, it is very true to state that all regional movements need not lead to separatist demands.

(i) In India, different regions and linguistic groups have the right to retain their own culture.

(ii) India has adopted a democratic approach to the question of diversity and, therefore, allows the political expression of regional aspirations.

(iii) Regional issues and problems receive adequate attention and accommodation in the policy making process.

(iv) Indian approach does not see regionalism and cultural diversity as anti national.

(v) During the period since independence regional aspirations from demands of statehood and economic development to autonomy and separation have been raised. But the democratic politics has accommodated the demands of different sections of the society. Regional aspirations are very much a part of democratic politics.

(vi) Jammu and Kashmir is one of the living examples of plural society and politics. Inspite of diversities and conflicts, the plural and secular culture of the state has remained largely intact. Similarly in Punjab regional identities continue to be important for the people, but politics has been on secular lines.

(b) The States of North-East were created out of the erstwhile state of Assam due to demands for political autonomy which arose because the Assam government tried to impose Assamese language on them.

(c) The same theme of unity could apply to all the regions of India because there is diversity in almost every region.

1)

Operation Blue Star.

2)

Indira Gandhi-Sheikh Abdullah Agreement.

3)

Agreement between Rajiv Gandhi and Laldenga.

4)

Rajiv Gandhi-Longowal Accord.

It was started by Sheikh Abdullah of National Conference.

National Conference had a long association with the Congress. Sheikh Abdullah was a personal friend of many Congress leaders including Jawaharlal Nehru.

(ii) It gives greater autonomy to the State than the other States in India.

(iii) The State has its own Constitution.

(iv) All provisions of the Indian Constitution are not applicable to the State.

(v) Laws passed by the Parliament apply to J & K only if the State agrees.

 Its main cause was the demand for a separate Kashmiri Nation.

It was supported by Pakistan which gave moral, material and military support to insurgents.

(i) The government was dismissed by the Centre mid-way through its term.

(ii)The Akalis did not enjoy strong support among the Hindus.

(iii)The Sikh Community was internally differentiated among on the basis of caste and class lines.

(vi)The Congress got more support among the Dalits’, wheather Hindu or Sikh - than the Akalis.

It was named as Operation Blue Star.

Its effects were: (i) The Government could successfully flush out the militants.

(ii) It also damaged the historic temple which deeply hurt the sentiments of the Sikhs.

(ii) (a) The region has four per cent of the country’s population but about twice as much share of its area.

(b) A small corridor of about 22 kilometers connects the region to the rest of the country.

(c) It shares boundaries with China, Myanmar, and Bangladesh.

(d) It serves as India’s gateway to South-East Asia.

(iii) Backwardness in comparison to other parts of the country;

(iv) Vast international border;

(v) Weak communication between the North-East and the rest of India.

The issues that dominates are demands for autonomy, movements for secession and opposition to outsiders.

(i) The different regions and linguistic groups have right to retain their own culture.

(ii) The cultural diversity is not considered as a threat to the nation.

(iii) India had adopted a democratic approach to the question of diversity. It allows the political expressions of regional aspirations. It allows parties and groups to address the people on the basis of their regional identity, aspiration and specific regional problems.

(iv) Regional issues and problems receive adequate attention and accommodation in the policy making process.

(b) Political autonomy for the region.

(c) To attain ‘bolbala’ i.e., dominance and hegemony of the Sikhs (Anandpur Sahib Resolution).

(d) Distribution of water between Punjab and neighboring States.

(e) Secession from India and the creation of ‘Khalistan’.

(iii) Assam: 

(a) Political autonomy.

(b) Tribal communities and separation from Assam.

(c) Secession from the Indian Union (Mizos).

(d) To detect and deport outsides from Assam i.e., anti-foreigners movement.

(iv) Tamil Nadu:

(a) Opposition to the Brahmins’ dominance.

(b) Against the political, economic and cultural domination of the North.

(c) Against making Hindi the country’s official language.

(ii) Some sections of the movement had ambitions of creating a Dravid Nation.

(iii) It did not take up arms and used democratic means like public debates and the electoral platform to achieve its ends.

(iv) The movement acquired political power in the State and also became influential at the national level.

(v) It led to the formation of Dravidar Kazhagam (DK) under the leadership of Tamil social reformer E.V. Ramasami ‘Periyar’.

(vi) It strongly opposed the Brahmins’ dominance.

(vii) It affirmed regional pride against the political, economic and cultural domination of the North.

(viii) The DK split and the political legacy of the movement was transferred to Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam which fought various agitation’s viz. restoration of the regional name of Kallakudi railway station, to give Tamil cultural history greater importance in school curricula, against the craft education scheme, against making Hindi the country’s official language.

(i) Nagaland State were created in 1960.

(ii) Meghalaya, Manipur and Tripura became States in 1972.

(iii) Arunachal Pradesh and Mizoram became separate States in 1987.

(iv) Earlier the partition had reduced the North-East to a land locked region and affected its economy.

Effects: (i) The region suffered neglect in developmental terms because it was cut off from the rest of India.

(ii) Its politics too remained insulated.

(iii) The region underwent demographic changes due to influx of migrants from neighbouring states and countries.

Activities : (i) There was opposition and riots throughout the State.

(ii) The Eastern India Tribal Union was formed. It was later on transformed into All Parties Hill Leaders’ Conference.

Demands : Leaders of the major tribal communities wanted to separate from Assam.

Results : (i) As a result of opposition, the Government of India created Meghalaya, Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh out of Assam.

(ii) Tripura and Manipur were upgraded into States too.

(iii) To satisfy the aspirations of some other tribal communities (like the Bodos, Karbis and Dimasas), Karbis and Dimasas were granted autonomy under District Councils, while Bodos were granted Autonomous Council.

Activities : They started an armed campaign and fought guerilla war for independence. They got support from Pakistan and secured shelter in then East Pakistan. The Indian security forces countered it with series of repressive measures. The insurgency continued for about two decades.

Outcome : (i) In 1986 a peace agreement was signed between Rajiv Gandhi and Laldenga. Mizoram was granted full- fledged statehood with special powers.

(ii) Laldenga took over as the Chief Minister.

(iii) Mizoram is one of the most peaceful states and has taken big strides in literacy and development.

(i) The most elementary lesson is that regional aspirations are very much a part of democratic politics. They exist in smaller countries like the United Kingdom too. In India, these aspirations must be dealt on regular basis because nation-building is an ongoing process.

(ii) Regional aspirations should be responded through democratic negotiations rather than through suppression. In India, in most of the cases, the Government of India reached negotiated settlement with regional movements. This reduced tensions existing in many regions. For example, Mizoram shows how political settlement can resolve the problem of separatism effectively.

(iii) It has proved the significance of power-sharing in democracy. Regions must be given a share in deciding the destiny of the nation otherwise the feeling of alienation and injustice can spread.

(iv) Regional imbalance in economic development contributes to the feeling of regional discrimination.

(v) Our Constitution-makers were farsighted in dealing with questions of diversity. They enacted a flexible constitution with special provisions for some states. The Sixth Schedule of the Constitution allows different tribes complete autonomy of preserving their practices and customary laws.

Therefore, regional aspirations are not encouraged to espouse separatism.

They believe that it does not allow full integration of the state with India.

AASU

(i) All Assam Students’ Union (AASU).

 (ii) Because they would reduce the indigenous Assamese in minority.

 (iii) The widespread poverty and unemployment in Assam despite the existence of natural resources like oil, tea and coal.

(i) Many a times regional aspiration become a threat with unity when the agitation based on them either go out of the control of the organisers or violence is resorted to as means to achieve the goal.

 (ii) It means peaceful negotiation between the organisers of the movement and the union government/ state government within the constitutional frame work.

 (iii)All Assam Students Union (AASU) and Asom Gana Parishad (AGP)

 (iv) Various accords were reached at from time to time. For example:

 (a) Between Rajiv Gandhi – AASU leaders in 1985.

 (b) Accord between Rajiv Gandhi and Lal Denga in 1986 (Mizoram). 
                                                   Or

(i) The Backward and Minority Classes Employees Federation (BAMCEF).

 (ii) Bahujan Samaj Party.

 (iii) Buddhist and Jains

(iv) The Bahujans constitute the majority of the population and are a formidable political force on the strength of their numbers.

The isolation of the region, its complex social character and its backwardness are the reasons.

Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh.

They were created for economic development of the region.

Akali Dal was leading the Punjabi Suba movement without having the full support of non-sikhs and other castes within Sikhs. The movement was too not as strong as in comparison to other states. This made Punjab to wait till 1966.

Reorganisation of the North East was almost completed in 1972. Meghalya was carved out of Assam in 1972. Manipur and Tripura too emerged as separate states. The states of Arunachal Pradesh and Mizoram came into being much later. Nagaland had become a state in 1963.

Non-Party Movements: Many of the politically active groups lost faith in existing democratic institutions and electoral politics. They, therefore chose to step outside party politics and engage in mass mobilization for registering their protest. Because of the voluntary nature of their social work, many of these organisations came to be known as voluntary organisations or voluntary sector organizations. Most of these groups believed in politics and want to participate in it but not through political parties.

Hence, these movements organised by them are called, ‘Non-party Movements’.

Their features:

(i) They remain outside party politics.

(ii) They do not contest elections.

(iii) They continue to work in rural and urban areas.

(iv) Of late, many of them are funded by external agencies including international service agencies.

(v) Ideals of local initiatives is weakened by the availability of external funds on a large scale to these organizations.
                                                              Or
In 1979, the All Assam students‟ Union (AASU), a students’ group not affliated to any party led an anti-foreigner movement. The movement was against illegal migrations, against domination of Bengalis and other outsiders, and against faulty voters’ register that included the names of lakhs of imigrants. The movement demanded that all outsiders who had entered the state after 1951 should be sent back. This agitation followed many novel methods and mobilized all sections of Assamese people, drawing support across the state. It also involved many tragic and violent incidents leading to loss of property and human lives. The movement also tried to blockade the movement of trains and the supply of oil from Assam to refineries in Bihar.

The provisions: According to the agreement with Rajiv Gandhi, those foreigners who migrated into Assam during and after the Bangladesh war and since, were to be identified and deported.

(i) Rajiv Gandhi – Longowal Accord was an important step towards bringing normalcy to Punjab, but peace was not restored easily and immediately. The cycle of violence continued nearly for a decade.
(ii) Peace returned by the middle of 1990s’ and that too after having lot of losses.

If regions are not given a share in the national level decision making, it will develop a feeling of injustice and alienation among the regional people.

Three areas of tension are:-
i) Jammu & Kashmir- insurgency, separatism, terrorism etc.
ii) North-East states – demand for autonomy, secessionist movements
iii) Demand for the formation of states based on linguistic and regionalism in different parts
of India.

Role of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad:

(i) He was a great freedom fighter and was opposed to the partition of India.

(ii) He was proponent of Hindu-Muslim Unity.

In 1959 a great famine struck in Mizo hills. The Assam Government failed to respond adequately to that famine. Due to that the Mizo Movement for secession gained popular support.

(i) Goa was under colonial rule since the 16th Century. During their rule, the Portuguese suppressed the people of Goa, denied them civil rights and carried out forced religious conversions.

(ii) After independence in Goa also, there was strong movement for freedom, which was strengthened by satyagrahis from Maharastra.

(iii) In December 1961, the Indian Government sent the army which liberated Goa, Daman and Diu and it was made a Union Territory.

(iv) One section of the people of Goa desired that Goa, as a Marathi speaking area should merged with Maharashtra but many Goans were keen to retain a separate identity and culture particularly the Konkani language.

(v) The Central Government held a special opinion poll in Goa asking people to decide about their choice.

(vi) A referendum – like procedure was used. The majority of the people decided to remain separate i.e. outside Maharashtra. Thus Goa continued as Union Territory. Finally in 1987, Goa became a State.