Akali Dal Ideology

In this essay I look at the question why a religious party, like Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), has changed its political ideologies, if it actually has. First I shall provide some context the party, Shiromani Akali Dal. I shall, then, put forward different arguments answering the same question. Range of scholars answer this on the grounds of inclusion-moderation thesis. They argue that SAD has changed its political ideologies as a result of moderation. I, on the other hand, argue that the political ideology whether moderate or radical is a result of strategic calculations. Akali Dal is political party in Punjab, trapped in the crossroads of region and religion. It came into being in 1920 when the Sikh religious body Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak

Akalis initially opposed Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale. Bhindranwale, on the other hand, was able to mobilize the mass. SAD and Bhindranwale together led the Dharam Yudh Morcha, which had the main objective of a more autonomous Punjab. The younger faction of SAD supported Bhindranwale while he emerged as a terrorist with an objective of Khalistan. Bhindranwale’s action led to Operation Bluestar in 1984 and thus following riots. SAD which had shown a moderate face earlier now had radicalized. In 1985, Akali Dal won the elections with the highest number of seats since its

One problem with the inclusion moderation thesis is the definition of moderate and radical. Some scholars may define Akali Dal radical since 1920 and some might consider it radical only during Khalistan movement. Thus, the variety in distinctions of moderate and radicalize makes the case problematic. Even if the two terms a defined precisely, this argument might fall short when looking at the party in a chronological order. SAD has fluctuated its stance a lot of times. SAD had moderated in 1967, then radicalized in 1980s. The former can be explained by the inclusion moderation thesis, but the radicalization can’t be accounted by the same Behavioral moderation might be a stronger argument than claiming that the party truly moderated. It claims that the actions of the party are calculated for politics but the core ideology remains the same. However, for a party like SAD the core ideology fluctuates. The economic framework model accounts for the fact that the party changes its stances solely for electoral purpose. A party like SAD even though arose to safeguard a religion, its ideologies, including religious ideology, are relevant till it meets the political