'Khalistan demand was raised to counter Pakistan Resolution adopted by Muslim League'

CHANDIGARH: At the time when the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) seems to be facing a crisis, an insight into its earlier constitutions throws light on its transformation overtime from being a panthic party and the articulator of Sikh ambitions and aspirations.
A new book ‘Sikh Struggle Documents 1920-2022’ by senior journalist Jagtar Singh carries the earlier constitutions of the party upto the one uploaded on the website of the Election Commission. The book comprises 181 documents relating to the religio-political narrative of Punjab beginning 1920. Most of these documents are from original sources and not part of the public domain. And the first point in the very first manifesto of the party on which it contested the 1936 elections stated: “To strive for complete freedom. Cooperation with those parties for this purpose having the same objective.”
The party constitution as adopted in 1948 with its earlier 1940 version as its basis talks not only of the Panth but also the country and the oppressed. The very first objective of that constitution states: “The main objective of the Shiromani Akali Dal the Panth, the country and the oppressed”. (Shiromani Akali Dal Da Mukh Mantav Panth, Desh Te Mazloomaan Di Sewa Karna Hai).
The author, Jagtar Singh said, “Akali Dal at that time had evolved as part of the national narrative and was closely linked with the freedom movement. Leaders like Mahatma Gandhi used to participate in Sikh conventions. During the present time, it is the Sikh narrative that is one of the factors impacting India’s geo-politics.”
He added, “It is not for the first time that intervention of the Akal Takht has been sought to streamline the Akali Dal. Akal Takht Jathedar Prof Darshan Singh had made suo moto intervention in early 1987 and released a new framework for the functioning of the party. The main Akali Dal at that time was known as Akali Dal (Longowal) and was headed by Surjit Singh Barnala who was also the CM while the splinter group that had parted from the mother party in May 1986 was headed by Parkash Singh Badal. Yet another move to unite the Akalis had been initiated in 1994 but the Badal faction decided to maintain a separate identity.”
Similarly, at a time when the Khalistan narrative is impacting India’s geopolitics, this demand had failed the democratic test way back in 1946 when the Shiromani Akali Dal contested the elections on the agenda of separate and exclusive sovereign Sikh state. The party had then entered into a limited alliance with the Congress.
He said, The concept of Khalistan first emerged in 1940 as a response to the Pakistan Resolution adopted by the Muslim League. Initially proposed by Dr. Vir Singh Bhatti of Ludhiana, the idea of an independent Sikh state garnered more attention from Congress than from the Akali Dal itself.”
The book includes a collection of original documents related to these issues, both during and after the partition. It also includes manifestos from the Shiromani Akali Dal, various party constitutions, and important documents relating to the militant struggle.