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Rajiv Gandhi soon initiated negotiations with the Akali leaders in the belief that a settlement with them would provide a lasting solution to the Punjab problem. The result of this policy, however, was that the advantage accruirig from Operation Blue Star was lost. After their release the Akali leaders were divided, confused and disoriented. Many of them, including Longowal, tried to consolidate their position vis-à-vis the terrorists by taking recourse to militant rhetoric. Finally, in August 1985, Rajiv Gandhi and Longowal signed the Punjab Accord. The government conceded the major Akali demands and promised to have others reviewed. In particular, it was agreed that Chandigarh would be transferred to Punjab, a commission would determine what Hindi-speaking territories would be transferred from Punjab to Haryana, and an independent tribunal would adjudicate the river water dispute. Elections for the state assembly and the national parliament were to be held in September 1985. On 20 August, the day Longowal announced that the Akalis would participate in the elections, the terrorists assassinated him. The elections were, however, held on time. Over 66 per cent of the electorate voted as compared with 64 per cent in 1977 and 1984. The Akalis secured an absolute majority in the state assembly for the first time in their history. The Akali government, headed by Surjit Singh Barnala, was however from the beginning ridden with factionalism and, consequently, immobilized. Its most important administrative step was the release of a large number of peoples accused of terrorist crimes, most of whom rejoined the terrorist ranks, giving terrorism a major fillip. The militant groups soon regrouped taking advantage of the soft policies of the Barnala government. There was, over time, resurgence in terrorist activities, and the state government, ridden with factionalism, was unable to contain them. Consequently, the central government dismissed the Barnala ministry and imposed President’s Rule over Punjab in May 1987. |
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