In 1970s Akali Dal started to demand Political autonomy in Punjab, and passed a resolution at Anandpur Sahib conference.

1. The Anandpur Sahib Resolution asserted regional autonomy and wanted to redefine centre-state relationship in the country.

2. The resolution also spoke of the aspirations of the Sikh qaum (community or nation) and declared its goal as attaining the bolbala (dominance or hegemony) of the Sikhs.

3. The Resolution was a plea for strengthening federalism, but it could also be interpreted as a plea for a separate Sikh nation.

4. The Resolution had a limited appeal among the Sikh masses.

The resolution was controversial due to:

1. The Akali dal government was dismissed.

2. the leadership of the movement passed from the moderate Akalis to the extremist elements and took the form of armed insurgency.

3. These militants made their headquarters inside the Sikh holy shrine, the Golden Temple in Amritsar, and turned it into an armed fortress.

4. In June 1984, the Government of India carried out ‘Operation Blue Star’, code name for army action in the Golden Temple. In this operation, the government could successfully flush out the militants, but it also damaged the historic temple and deeply hurt the sentiments of the Sikhs.