The decade of the 1980s also witnessed major developments in the State of Punjab. The social composition of the State changed first with Partition and later on after the carving out of Haryana and Himachal Pradesh. While the rest of the country was reorganized on linguistic lines in the 1950s, Punjab had to wait till 1966 for the creation of a Punjabi-speaking State. The Akali Dal, which was formed in 1920 as the political wing of the Sikhs, had led the movement for the formation of a ‘Punjabi suba’. The Sikhs were now a majority in the truncated State of Punjab.

What is the Punjab accord of 1985 also known as?

The Rajiv Gandhi - Longowal Accord

Punjab accord of 1985 also known as The Rajiv Gandhi - Longowal Accord.

The Rajiv Gandhi - Longowal Accord  or the Punjab Accord, was a step toward bringing normalcy to Punjab. It was signed in 1985. It was agreed that Chandigarh would be transferred to Punjab, a separate commission would be appointed to resolve the border dispute between Punjab and Haryana, and a tribunal would be set up to decide the sharing of Ravi-Beas river water among Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan. The agreement also provided for compensation to and better treatment of those affected by the militancy in Punjab and the withdrawal of the application of Armed Forces Special Powers Act in Punjab.