Rajiv–Longowal Accord
1985 Indian political accord on Sikh issues
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The accord attracted opposition from several orthodox Sikh leaders of Punjab, as well as from the politicians of Haryana. Some of its promises could not be fulfilled because of the disagreements. In August 1985, Longowal was assassinated by the Sikh militants opposed to the accord.
Provisions
The following were the provisions of the accord:
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Opposition
Punjab
On 26 July, Longowal announced that the accord had been unanimously approved by a congregation of former MPs, MLAs, ministers and jathedars. However, Gurcharan Singh Tohra (SGPC President) and Prakash Singh Badal opposed every clause of the accord. Even after a meeting between Longowal, Tohra, Badal and Surjit Singh Barnala, the differences persisted. On 25 July, a group of Akali Dal leaders rejected the accord and called it a "sell-out". Joginder Singh, the father of Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, presided over an Akali Dali meeting in which he described Longowal, Barnala and Balwant Singh as traitors to the Sikh panth. The resolution passed at the meeting stated that those leaders did not represent the Sikh masses and accused Longowal of diluting the Anandpur Sahib Resolution.
Haryana
The Haryana Chief Minister, Bhajan Lal, the HPCC (I) President Sultan Singh approved of the accord. However, the five opposition parties in Haryana - Lok Dal, BJP, Janata Party, Congress (S) and Congress (J) - declared that they would observe Haryana bandh on 31 July to protest the accord. After a rally in Rohtak, 29 members of the Haryana State Assembly resigned on 9 August. The protesters objected to the following:
- Consideration being given to the Anandpur Sahib Resolution, which the protestors believed to be the root cause of the trouble in Punjab
- Soft treatment being meted out to those who had deserted the Army
- "Absolutely vague" settlement regarding the territories that would be transferred to Haryana in lieu of Chandigarh
- Imposition of a ceiling on the use of the Ravi-Beas waters as per the current use: the protesters pointed out that Punjab was using more water than its allocated share, but Haryana was using less water than its share
- Uncertainty regarding who will control the headworks