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| 1985–90 |
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| Food grain production remained remarkably stable, despite uneven monsoon patterns, undoubtedly as a result of the rapid expansion achieved during the Green Revolution. Punjab and Haryana increased their share of agricultural production from 13 percent in 1975 to 21 percent in 1985 and retained this share through 1990. Such financial success doubtless explained part of the strong sense held among Punjabi Sikhs that the national government “owed” them more recognition. | 1 |
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| 1985 |
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| Rajiv Gandhi and Minister of Finance V. P. Singh shifted economic policy toward fiscal rather than direct government controls. They lowered taxes to stimulate investment. | 2 |
| The focus on the place of Muslims in Indian civil society was increased by the ruling in the case of Shah Bano, an elderly Muslim woman who sought recourse through civil law when her husband divorced her and refused to pay alimony. The court ruled in her favor, arguing that even though separate civil law structures applied to Hindus and Muslims, all citizens should be treated equally. In 1986, to appease conservative Muslim agitators, the Congress government introduced legislation (ironically entitled the Muslim Women Protection of Rights on Divorce Act) that not only denied equal protection to Muslim women, but also did so retroactively, so that Shah Bano lost her award. | 3 |
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| July |
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| The Punjab Accord was signed by Rajiv Gandhi and Akali Dal leader Sant Longowal. It promised the transfer of Chandigarh to Punjab on Jan. 26, 1986. New elections were to be held in Punjab, and some concessions made to other Sikh demands. Sant Longowal was assassinated by Sikh terrorists in his own village. | 4 |
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| Sept |
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| Elections in Punjab gave victory to the Akali Dal and its new leader, S. S. Barnaloo, who became chief minister. | 5 |
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