Anandpur Sahib Resolution Authenticated
by Sant Harchand Singh Longowal
The Resolution
Adopted, in the light of the Anandpur Sahib Resolution, at the open
session of the 18th All India Akali Conference held at Ludhiana on 28-29
October, 1978 under the Presidentship of Jathedar Jagdev Singh Talwandi
are as under:
(It was after the passing of these Resolutions that Shiromani Akali
Dal started the struggle therefore).
Resolution No. 1
Moved by S. Gurcharan Singh Tohra, President Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak
Committee and endorsed by S. Prakash Singh Badal, Chief Minister, Punjab.
The Shiromani Akali Dal realizes that India is a federal and republican
geographical entity of different languages, religions and cultures.
To safeguard the fundamental rights of the religious and linguistic
minorities, to fulfil the demands of the democratic traditions and to
pave the way for economic progress it has become imperative that the
Indian constitutional infrastructure should be given a real federal
shape by redefining the Central and State relations and rights on the
line of aforesaid principles and objectives.
The concept of the total revolution given by Lok Naik Sh. Jaya Parkash
Narain also based upon the progressive decentralization of powers. The
climax of the process of centralization of powers of the states through
repeated amendments of the Constitution during the Congress regime came
before the countrymen in the form of the Emergency, when all fundamental
rights of all citizens were usurped. It was then that the programme
of decentralization of powers ever advocated by Shiromani Akali Dal
was openly accepted and adopted by other political parties including
Janata Party, C.P.I. (M), A.D.M.K. etc.
Shiromani Akali Dal has ever stood firm on this principle and that
is why after very careful considerations it unanimously adopted a resolution
to this effect first at all India Akali Conference, Batala, then at
Shri Anandpur Sahib which has endorsed the principle of State autonomy
in keeping with the concept of Federalism.
As such, the Shiromani Akali Dal emphatically urges upon the Janata
Government to take cognizance of the different linguistic and cultural
sections, religious minorities as also the voice of millions of people
and recast the constitutional structure of the country on real and meaningful
federal principles to obviate the possibility of any danger to National
unity and the integrity of the Country and further, to enable the states
to play a useful role for the progress and prosperity of the Indian
people in their respective areas by the meaningful exercise of the powers.
Resolution No. 2
The momentous meeting of the Shiromani Akali Dal calls upon the Government
of India to examine the long tale of the excesses, wrongs illegal actions
committed by the previous Congress government, more particularly during
Emergency, and try to find an early solution to the following problems:
-
Chandigarh originally raised as a Capital for Punjab should be
handed over to Punjab.
-
The long standing demand of the Shiromani Akali Dal for the merger
in Punjab of the Punjabi speaking areas, to be identified by linguistic
experts with village as an unit, should be conceded.
-
The control of Head Works should continue to be vested in Punjab
and, if need be, the Reorganization Act should be amended.
-
The arbitrary and unjust Award given by Mrs. Indira Gandhi during
the Emergency on the distribution of Ravi-Beas waters should be
revised on the universally accepted norms and principles, thereby
justice be done to Punjab.
-
Keeping in view the special aptitude and martial qualities of the
Sikhs the present ratio of their strength in Army should be maintained.
-
The excess being committed on the settlers in the Terai region
of UP in the name of Land Reforms should be vacated by making suitable
amendments in the Ceiling Law on the Central guidelines.
Resolution No. 3
(Economic Policy Resolution)
The chief sources of inspiration of the economic politics and programme
of the Shiromani Akali Dal are the secular, democratic and socialistic
concepts of Sri Guru Nanak Dev and Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji. Our Economic
programme is based on three basic principles.
-
Dignity of Labour.
-
An economic and social structure which provides for the uplift
of the poor and depressed sections of society.
-
Unabated opposition to concentration of economic and political
power in the hands of the capitalists.
While drafting its economic policies and programme, the Shiromani Akali
Dal in its historic Anandpur Sahib Resolution had laid particular on
the need to break the monopolistic hold of the capitalists foisted on
the Indian economy by 30 years of Congress rule in India. This capitalistic
hold enabled the central government to assume all powers in its hands
after the manner of Mughal Imperalism. This was bound to thwart the
economic progress of the states and injure the social and economic interests
of the people. The Shiromani Akali Dal once again reiterates the Sikh
way of life by resolving to fulfil the holy words of Guru Nank Dev:
“He alone realizes the True Path who labours honestly and shares the
fruits of that Labour.”
This way of life is based upon three basic principles:
-
Doing honest labour.
-
Sharing the fruits of this labour, and
-
Meditation on the Lord’s Name.
The Shiromani Akali Dal calls upon the Central and the State Government
to eradicate unemployment during the next ten years. While pursuing
this aim special emphasis should be laid on ameliorating the lot of
the weaker sections, Scheduled and depressed classes, workers, landless
and poor farmers and urban poor. Minimum wages should be fixed for them
all.
The Shiromani Akali Dal urges upon the Punjab Government to draw up
such an economic plan for the State as would turn it into the leading
province during the next ten years, by raising per capita income to
Rs. 3,000 and by generating an economic growth rate of 7% per annum
as against 4% at National level.
The Shiromani Akali Dal gives first priority to the redrafting of the
taxation structure in such a way that the burden of taxation is shifted
from the poor to the richer classes and an equitable distribution of
National income is ensured.
The main plank of the economic programme of the Shiromani Akali Dal
is enable the economically weaker sections of the Society to share the
fruits of National income.
The Shiromani Akali Dal calls upon the Central Government to make an
international air-field at Amritsar which should also enjoy the facilities
of a dry port. Similarly a Stock Exchange should be opened at Ludhiana
to accelerate the process of industrialisation and economic growth in
the State. The Shiromani Akali Dal also desires that suitable amendments
should be made in the Foreign Exchange rules for free exchange of foreign
currencies and thereby removing the difficulties being faced by the
Indian emigrants.
The Shiromani Akali Dal emphatically urges upon the Indian Government
to bring a parity between the prices of the agricultural produce and
that of the industrial raw materials so that the discrimination against
such states which lack these materials may be removed.
The Shiromani Akali Dal demand that exploitation of the producers of
the cash crops like cotton, sugarcane, oil seeds etc. at the hands of
the traders should be stopped forthwith and for such a purpose arrangements
for the purchase of these crops by the government, at remunerative prices
should be made. Besides, effective steps should be taken by the government
for the purchase of cotton through the Cotton Corporation.
The Shiromani Akali Dal strongly feels that most pressing National
problem is the need to ameliorate the lot of millions of exploited persons
belonging to the scheduled classes. For such a purpose the Shiromani
Akali Dal calls upon the Central and State Governments to earmark special
funds. Besides the State Governments should allot sufficient funds in
their respective budgets for giving free residential plots both in the
urban and rural areas to the Scheduled Castes.
The Shiromani Akali Dal also calls for the rapid diversification of
farming. The shortcomings in the Land Reforms Laws should be removed,
rapid industrialization of the State, ensured the credit facilities
for the medium industries, expanded and unemployment allowance given
to those who are unemployed. For remunerative farming perceptive reduction
should be made in the prices of farm machinery like tractors, tubewells
as also the inputs etc.
Resolution No. 4
This huge session of the Shiromani Akali Dal regards the discrimination
to which the Punjabi language is being subjected in the adjoining States
of Himachal, Haryana, Delhi and Jammu and Kashmir etc. It is firm demand
that in accordance with the Nehru Language Formula the neighbouring
States of Punjab should give second language status to the Punjabi language
because a fairly large sections of their respective population are Punjabi
speaking.
Resolution No. 5
The meeting regrets the claims of the refugees who had migrated to
Jammu and Kashmir as a result of the partition of the country, no compensation
has been provided to them even after such a long time and these unfortunate
refugees are rotting in the camps ever since then.
The Akali Dal Session therefore forcefully demands that their claims
should be soon settled and immediate steps should be taken to rehabilitate
them even if it involves an amendment in Section 370.
Resolution No. 6
The 18th session of the All India Conference notes with satisfaction
that mechanization of farming in the country handled to increase in
the farm yield and as a result the country is heading towards self-sufficiency.
However, the session feels that poor farmers are unable to take to
mechanization because of the enormity of the cost involved.
As such, the Shiromani Akali Dal urges upon the Government of India
to abolish the excise duty on tractors so that with the decrease in
their prices the ordinary farmers may also be able to avail of farm
machinery and contribute to the growth of gross agricultural produce
of the country.
Resolution No. 8
The meeting of the Shiromani Akali Dal appeals to the Central and
State Government to pay particular attention to the poor and labouring
classes and demands that besides making suitable amendments in the Minimum
Wages Act, suitable legal steps should be taken to improve the economic
lot of the labouring class to enable it to lead a respectable life and
play a useful role in the rapid industrialization of the country.
Resolution No. 9
This session seeks permission from the Government of India to install
a broadcasting station at Golden Temple, Amritsar, for the relay of
‘Gurbani Kirtan’ for the spiritual satisfaction of those Sikhs who are
living in foreign lands.
The session wishes to make it clear that the entire cost of the proposed
Broadcasting Project would be borne by the Khalsa Panth and its over-all
control shall vest with the Indian Government. We have every hope that
the government would have no hesitation in conceding this demand after
the consideration.
Resolution No. 10
The huge Session of the Shiromani Akali Dal strongly urges upon the
Government of India to make necessary amendments in the following enactments
for the benefit of the agricultural classes who have toiled hard for
the larger national interests:
-
By suitable amendment in the relevant clause of the Hindu Succession
Act, a women should be given rights of inheritance in the properties
of her father-in-law instead of the father’s.
-
The agricultural land of the farmers should be completely exempted
from the Wealth Tax and the Estate Duty.
Resolution No. 11
The vast Session of the Shiromani Akali Dal strongly impresses upon
the Government of India that keeping in view the economic backwardness
of the scheduled and non-scheduled castes provisions proportionate to
population should be made in the budget for utilization for their welfare.
A special ministry should be created at the Central as a practical measure
to render justice to them on the basis of the reservation.
The Session also calls upon the government that in keeping with the
settlement already no discrimination should be made between the Sikh
and Hindu Harijans in any part of the country.
Resolution No. 12
The Congress government is called upon to vacate the gross injustice
discrimination done to Punjab in the distribution of Ravi-Beas waters.
The Central Government must also give approval for the immediate establishment
of six sugar and four textile mills in Punjab so that the state may
be able to implement its agro-industrial policy.
Basic Postulates of The Shiromani Akali Dal
As adopted by the working committee of the Shiromani Akali Dal at its
meeting held at Sri Anandpur Sahib on 16-17 October, 1973.
(A) Postulates
-
The Shiromani Akali Dal is the very embodiment of the hopes and
aspirations of the Sikh Nation and as such is fully entitled to
its representation. The basic postulates of this Organization are
Human progress and ultimate unity of all human beings with the Spiritual
Soul.
-
These postulates are based upon the three great principles of
Guru Nanak Dev Ji, namely, a Meditation on God’s Name, dignity of
labour and sharing of fruits of this Labour.(Nam Japo, Kirat Karo,
Wand Chhako)
(B) Purposes
This Shiromani Akali Dal shall ever strive to achieve the following
aims:
-
Reiteration of the unicity (Oneness) of God, meditation on His
Name, recitation of Gurbani, renewal of faith on the ten Holy Sikh
Gurus and the Holy Sri Guru Granth Sahib and other appropriate measures
for such a purpose.
-
Grooming accomplished preachers, Ragis, Dhandis, and poets in
the Sikhs Missionary College for a more effective propagation of
Sikhism, Sikh Philosophy, belief in Sikh code of conduct and Kirtan
etc. at home and abroad, in schools and colleges, in villages and
in cities as indeed at every place.
-
Baptising the Sikhs (Amrit Prachar) on a vast scale, with particular
emphasis on Schools and College of which the teachers and the taught
shall be enthused through regular study circles.
-
Reinculcate the religious practice of ‘DASWAND’ among the Sikhs.
(Given one tenth of one’s earnings for the welfare of the Community).
-
Generating feelings of respect for the Sikh intellectuals, writers,
preachers, granthis, etc., who also in turn, would be enthused to
improve upon their accomplishments while conforming to the basic
Sikh tenets and traditions.
-
Streamlining the Gurdwara administration by giving better training
to their workers. Appropriate steps would also be taken to maintain
Gurdwara buildings in proper condition. For such a purpose, the
party representatives in the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee
and local Committees would be directed time to time to pull their
weight.
-
Making appropriate arrangements for the error free publication
of Gurbani; promoting research work in the ancient and modern Sikh
history as also its publication; rendering Gurbani in other languages
and producing first rate literature on Sikhism.
-
Taking appropriate steps for the enactment of an All India Gurdwara
Act with a view to introduce improvements in the administration
of the Gurdwaras throughout the country and to reintegrate the traditional
preaching sects to Sikhism like Udasis and Nirmalas with the mainstream
of Sikhism without in any way encroaching on the properties of the
respective individuals ‘maths’.
-
Taking such steps as may be necessary to bring the Sikh Gurdwaras
all over the world under a single system of administration with
a view to run them according to the basic Sikh norms and to pool
their sources for the dissemination of Sikhism on a wider and more
impressive scale.
Striving for free access to all those holy Sikh Shrines, including
Nankana Sahib from which the Sikh Panth has been separated, for pilgrimage
and proper upkeep.
Political Goal
The political goal of the Panth without doubt, is enshrined in the
commandments of the Tenth Lord, in the pages of Sikh history and in
the very heart of the Khalsa Panth, the ultimate objective of which
is the pre-eminence of the Khalsa.
The fundamental policy of the Shiromani Akali Dal is to seek the realization
of this birth right of the Khalsa through creation of congenial environment
and a political set up.
For attainment of this aim
-
The Shiromani Akali Dal is determined to strive by all possible
means to:
-
Have, all those Punjabi speaking areas deliberately kept on:
of Punjab, such as Dalhousie in Gurdaspur District; Chandigarh;
Pinjore-Kalka and Ambala Saddar etc. in Ambala District; the
entire Una tehsils of Hoshiarpur District; the ‘Desh’ area of
Nalagarh; Shahabad and Gulha blocks of Karnal District; Tohana
Sub-Tehsil, Ratia block and Sirsa tehsil of Hissar District
and six tehsil of Ganganagar District in Rajasthan; merged with
Punjab to constitute a single administrative unit where the
interests of the Sikhs and Sikhism are specifically protected.
-
It this new Punjab and in other States the Centre's interference
would be restricted to Defence, Foreign relations Currency and
General Communication; all other departments would be in the
jurisdiction of Punjab (and other states) which would be fully
entitled to frame own laws on these subjects for administration.
For the above departments of the Centre, Punjab and other States
contribute in the proportion to representation in the Parliament.
-
The Sikhs and other religious minorities living out of Punjab
should be adequately protected against any kind of discrimination.
-
The Shiromani Akali Dal would also endeavour to have the Indian
Constitution recast on real federal principles, with equal representation
at the Centre for all the States.
-
The Shiromani Akali Dal strongly denounces the foreign policy
of India framed by the Congress party. It is worthless, hopeless
and highly detrimental to the interests of the country, the Nation
and the mankind at large. Shiromani Akali Dal shall extend its support
only to that foreign policy of India which is based on the principles
of peace and national interests. It strongly advocates a policy
of peace with all neighbouring countries, especially those inhabited
by the Sikhs and their sacred shrines. The Akali Dal is of the firm
view that our foreign policy should in no case play second fiddle
to that of any other country.
-
The Shiromani Akali Dal shall raise its firm voice against any
discrimination against any Sikh (or even other) employees of the
Central or State Governments. The Shiromani Akali Dal shall also
endeavour to maintain the traditional position of the Sikhs in all
the wings of the defence departments and the Panth would pay particular
attention to the needs of the Sikh Armymen. The Shiromani Akali
Dal would also see that 'kirpan' is accepted as an integral part
of the Uniform of the Sikhs in Army.
-
It shall be the primary duty of the Shiromani Akali Dal to help
rehabilitate the ex-servicemen of the Defence Departments in the
civil life and or such a purpose it would extend them every help
to enable them to organize themselves so that they are able to raise
their voice in an effective way of giving adequate concessions and
proper safeguards for a life of self-respect and dignity.
-
The Shiromani Akali Dal is of the firm opinion that all those
persons males or females -- who have not been convicted of any criminal
offences by a court of law, should be at liberty to possess all
types of small arms, like revolvers, guns, pistols, rifles, carbines
etc., without any licence, the only obligation being their registration.
-
The Shiromani Akali Dal seeks ban on the sale of liquor and other
intoxicants and shall press for prohibition on the consumption of
intoxicants and smoking on public places.
The Economic Policy and Programme of The Shiromani Akali Dal
As adopted by its Working Committee on 17th October, 1973 at its meeting
held at Sri Anandpur Sahib:
Although the mainstay of the Indian economy is agriculture and all
those political powers who claim to raise social structure on the basis
of justice cannot afford to ignore this fact, yet this is a hard fact
that the levers of economic powers, continue to be in the hands of big
traders, capitalists and monopolists. Some marginal benefits might have
accrued to other classes, but the benefits of economic growth have been
reaped by these categories during the last 26 years after Independence.
The political power has also been misappropriated by these classes which
are wielding the same for their own benefits. As such, any peaceful
attempt to usher in a new era of social justice would have to break
the economic and political strongholds of these categories of the people.
The Shiromani Akali Dal strongly advocates that the growing gulf between
the rich and the poor, in the urban and rural areas both, should be
abridged but, it is of the firm opinion that, for such a purpose, the
first assault would have to be made on the classes who have assumed
all the reins of economic power in their hands. In rural areas, the
Akali Dal determined to help the weaker classes, like the scheduled
castes, backward classes, landless tenants, ordinary labourers, the
poor and middle class farmers. For such a purpose, it stands for meaningful
land reforms which envisage a ceiling of 30 standard acres and the distribution
of excess land among the poor farmers.
The motto of the Shiromani Akali Dal is to provide employment for all,
requisite food and clothing for all, a house to live in, suitable transport
and to create means to fulfil all those necessities of a civilized life
without which life appears incomplete.
As such, the economic policy of the Shiromani Akali Dal shall endeavour
to achieve the following objectives:
Agriculture Sector
During recent years the agriculture sector has witnessed land reforms
and green revolution. The Shiromani Akali Dal undertakes to enrich the
green revolution by an increase in yield per acre. It shall also ensure
perceptible improvement in the standard of living of all rural classes,
more particularly of the poor and the middle class farmers, as also
the landless labourers. For such a purpose it plans to work on the following
lines:
-
Introducing land reforms and measures for increasing agricultural
production with a view to remove the growing gap between the rich
and the poor. For such a purpose the existing legislation on land
ceiling would have to be revised and a firm ceiling of 30 standard
acres per family would have to be enforced with proprietary rights
to the actual tillers. The excess land would be distributed among
the landless tenants and poor farmers, while the cultivable government
land unused shall be distributed among the landless classes, especially
the scheduled castes and tribes. While distributing such lands the
interests of Harijans and landless labourers would be particularly
taken care of. The Akali Dal would also consider the possibilities
of allowing the tenants to service loans by mortgaging the land
under their plough, as also prohibiting the scheduled castes/tribes
and backward classes from mortgaging the land distributed among
them.
-
The Shiromani Akali Dal shall work for the modernization of farming
and would also try to enable the middle class and poor farmers to
seek loans and inputs made available by different agencies.
-
The Shiromani Akali Dal shall try to fix the prices of the agricultural
produce on the basis of the returns of the middle class farmers.
Such prices would be notified well before the sowing seasons and
only the State government would be empowered to fix such prices.
-
The Shiromani Akali Dal stands for complete nationalization of
the wholesale trade in foodgrains through the establishment of State
agencies.
-
The Shiromani Akali Dal strongly opposes the demarcation of food
zones and the attendant restrictions on the movements of foodgrains.
The whole country should be the single food zone.
The party shall make special efforts to bring the Thein Dam and the
Bhatinda Thermal plants to a speedy completion so that increased and
cheaper power and irrigation facilities are made available. Definite
efforts would be made for the establishment of an Atomic power station
in the state.
Co-operative societies would be set up in the rural areas. In all those
areas where canal water is not available small irrigation projects would
be taken in hand.
Industrial Sector
The Shiromani Akali Dal strongly advocates that all key industries
should be under the public sector.
It is of the opinion that consumer industries should be immediately
nationalized to stabilize the prices of the consumer goods and to save
the poor consumer from exploitation at the hands of the industrialists
and the middlemen.
The public sector industries should be established in such a way that
the imbalance between different States is removed.
A planned effort to establish agro-industries in the rural areas should
be made to relieve the growing population pressure in the urban areas.
The industrial management should be democratized by enabling the workers
to have a say in the management and by fair distribution of profits
between the industrialists and the workers. The credit agencies, especially
the nationalized banks, should be directed to invest a fixed ratio of
their deposits in the rural areas. Every industrial unit beyond worth
one crore assets should be brought under the public sector. The Akali
Dal stands for progressive nationalization of Transport.
The Public Sector units should be fully autonomous and manned by competent
young executives drawn from a central pool of talent.
Economic Policy
The Shiromani Akali Dal demands that the whole tax structure be revised
in such a way that the evasion of taxes and the flow of black money
is completely eradicated. It stands for a straightforward system of
taxation. The present infrastructure of taxation weighs heavily against
the poor and enables the rich to bypass it. The party stands for a more
realistic policy in this respect so that the black money running a parallel
economy may be usefully employed.
Workers, Middle Class Employees and Agricultural Labour.
For their benefits the Shiromani Akali Dal would try its best:
-
To fix need based wages for industrial workers.
-
To bring progressive improvement in the standard of living of government
employees.
-
To re-assess the minimum wages of agricultural labour and to standard
of living for them.
-
To take necessary steps to provide roofed accommodation for standard
of living for them.
-
To take necessary steps to provide roofed accommodation for the
rural and urban poor.
Unemployment
The Shiromani Akali Dal stands for full employment in the country.
For such a purpose it is of the firm opinion that the Govt. must provide
immediate employment to the educated and trained persons, otherwise
reasonable unemployment allowance should be paid to them. This amount
should be shared by the centre and the state government. The minimum
rates of such an allowance should be as under:
1. Matric and or trained hands
|
50/- per month
|
2. B.A.
|
70/- per month
|
3. M.A.
|
100/- per month
|
4. Engineers and Doctors
|
150/- per month
|
5. Other trained Labour
|
50/- per month
|
. All persons above the age of 65, should be given old-age pension.
Weaker Section and Backward Classes
The Shiromani Akali Dal shall try to improve the economic conditions
of the backward classes and weaker sections of Society by extending
them facilities for education, employment and other concessions, to
enable them to come at par with other sections of society. Foodgrains
at cheaper rates would be made available to them.
Educational and Cultural
The Shiromani Akali Dal aims at grooming the Sikhs into a strong and
sturdy Nation highly educated, fully aware of its fundamental rights,
very well versed in various arts and ever ready to honour the more outstanding
of its sons. For such a purpose:
-
The Shiromani Akali Dal regards the educationalists, scientists,
philosophers, poets, writers and artists of the Sikh Nation as its
most prized asset.
-
The Shiromani Akali Dal stands for compulsory and free education
upto matric standard.
-
To check the growing rate of unemployment, Shiromani Akali Dal
would try to introduce such courses to study as would enable their
students to get immediate employment on completion of a course.
-
The Shiromani Akali Dal shall make arrangements for the education
of the rural and weaker Classes and would also make provision for
the higher education of the more promising students among them.
-
Punjabi would be a compulsory subject for all students upto the
matric standard.
-
Special attention would be paid to the science and technical field
of education, with particular emphasis on the study of Nuclear physics
and space science in the University.
-
The Shiromani Akali Dal shall try to improve the standard of games
and bring them on level with international standards.
|
Sd/-
|
|
Giani Ajmer Singh
|
|
Secretary. |
Dated: 1-8-1977 |
Shiromani Akali Dal.
|
|