The article begins highlighting a recent event where the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) remembered the first incursion of a police force into the Golden Temple on July 4, 1955. This incident occurred during the Punjab Suba movement, a significant element in the state’s history. The subsequent paragraphs will delve into various aspects of the Punjab Suba movement, the formation of Punjab state, the constitutional provisions for the creation of states, and the advantages, disadvantages of creating new states, along with pointing out current statehood demands in India.
Understanding the Punjab Suba Movement
Following India’s independence, the Punjab Suba movement commenced, largely led by the political party, Shiromani Akali Dal. The purpose was to establish a Punjabi-speaking state. However, this proposal faced opposition, which led to clashes of slogans supporting and against the idea, eventually prompting the government to ban these slogans under section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC). April 1955 marked this decisive action. Interestingly, this demand propelled the necessity for a separate state of Haryana.
Formation of the Punjab State
The Punjab Reorganization Act 1966 led to Punjab’s restructuring, and Haryana emerged as an independent entity, securing its status as India’s 17th state. Consequently, the original East Punjab split into two states, Haryana and Punjab. This reorganization also contributed some territory to Himachal Pradesh, then a Union territory. Meanwhile, Chandigarh procured the status of a Union territory, designated as the provisional capital for both Punjab and Haryana.
Constitutional Provisions for Creation of States
India’s constitution endows power to the Union government to carve out new states from existing ones or assimilate one state with another – an act termed as reorganization. The basis for this process can be linguistic, religious, ethnic, or administrative. A procedure delineated in Article 3 involves a presidential reference sent to the State Assembly, followed by a resolution tabled and passed in the Assembly. Subsequently, the Assembly passes a Bill establishing the new state(s), which needs ratification from Parliament.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Creation of New States
New states’ formation can offer multiple benefits such as improved economic resource management, more investment opportunities, accelerated economic growth, and better representation of people in their state affairs. Conversely, it may escalate inter-state issues related to water, power, and boundary, potentially dilute nationalism with growing cries for regional autonomy, make smaller states heavily dependent on central government for financial support and lead to dominant community’s supremacy.
Current Statehood Demands in India
Several regions in India are currently demanding statehood, including Vidarbha (Eastern Maharashtra’s Amravati and Nagpur divisions), Delhi (for comprehensive control of substantive powers), Harit Pradesh (Western Uttar Pradesh’s agriculturally dominated districts), Purvanchal (Eastern end of Uttar Pradesh state), Bodoland (Northern Assam, home to the largest Bodo ethnic and linguistic community), Saurashtra (Kathiawar Peninsula in southwestern Gujarat state), and Gorkhaland (Proposed state covering Darjeeling hills and Dooars in northern West Bengal, inhabited by ethnic Gorkha (Nepali) people).
