National Politics

18 Jan.

• BJP proposes contingency plan for snap poll.
• BSP leader Kanshi Ram decides not to have any alliance; hopes to secure 70 seats.

20 Jan.

• BJP exudes confidence, decides to contest 500 seats and ride Hindu wave.

27 Jan.

• BJP leader Vajpayee advocates national government.

30 Jan.

• Vajpayee reiterates demand for national government.
• Vijayaraje Scindia opposes it.

31 Jan.

• BJP National Convention opens in Jaipur.

1 Feb.

• BJP president M.M. Joshi advocates presidential form of government, praises Advani's Rath Yatra.
• Janata Dal (S) bans non-secular elements from entry.

3 Feb.

• BJP projects itself as alternative government, decides to concentrate on Kashmir and Babari Masjid, adopts Ram & Roti as slogan.

4 Feb.

• Joshi demands uniform civil code.
• Dalit leaders from Samta Andolan to consolidate SC & ST power.

5 Feb.

• Dy. P.M. calls for realignment of all secular forces.

6 Feb.

• Joshi asks Muslims to “share Ram as national hero”.

7 Feb.

• Akali Dal leader S.S. Mann offers Sikh volunteers to USA in Gulf War.
• V.P. Singh rules out national government.

8 Feb.

• P.M. advocates coalition of consensus to meet national situation.
• Janata Dal holds first plenary session in Puri.
• V.P. Singh pleads for minorities.

10 Feb.

• V.P. Singh calls for united struggle by secular parties against BJP.

13 Feb.

• IUML quits Cong (I)-led UDF in Kerala.

14 Feb.

• Cong (I) leader Karunakaran regrets IUML decision.
• Cong (I) leaders organise prayer meeting for Iraq's victory.

Communal Violence

• UP — Lucknow, City: 15–19 Jan. — 5 killed
• UP — Ghaziabad, City: 26 Jan.–3 Feb. — 9 killed
• UP — Bulandshahr, Khurja: 1 Feb.– — 9 killed
• Maharashtra — Bombay: 27 Jan.–6 Feb. — 6 killed

16 Jan.

• UP C.M. announces decision to constitute Shanti Suraksha Bal to deal with communal riots and terrorism and to raise 7 battalions.
• Shahabuddin visits Kanpur, sees Kanpur disturbances as police action against Muslims.

20 Jan.

• Anti-PAC Forum breaks relay hunger strike.

22 Jan.

• 2 convened for anti-Sikh riots in Bokaro.
• MOS, HA reiterates Government's commitment to protect minorities.

27 Jan.

• J.D. leader V.P. Singh accuses BJP of promoting communal hatred and asks Government to protect life and property.

29 Jan.

• UP suspends 12 policemen for killing 3 Harijan villagers in false counters.
• Concert for Harmony organised in Faizabad.

30 Jan.

• Campaign against Communalism observes Mahatma Gandhi's death anniversary in memory of victims of communal violence.

1 Feb.

• People's Rights Organisation indicts BJP for Jaipur Riots in October 1990.

8 Feb.

• A.P. establishes one-man Commission of Inquiry for October–December 1990 riots.

9 Feb.

• Sampradayakta Virodhi Andolan demands probe in growth of communal violence.

BABARI MASJID DISPUTE

16 Jan.

• Kendriya Marg Darshak Mandal of VHP decides to force Government to hand over Babari Masjid or to dislodge it from power; decides to mobilise public opinion from 1 February and gherao Parliament on 4 April and UP Assembly on an earlier date; instructs Bajrang Dal to update list of temples converted into mosques.
• VHP submits list of 9 experts for negotiation with AIBMAC.

17 Jan.

• Special Bench rejects Buddhist claim.

18 Jan.

• UP C.M. M.S. Yadav announces 3-member Commission of Inquiry for October–December 1990 disturbances.
• Shahabuddin calls negotiations a futile exercise and demands acceleration of judicial proceedings.
• BMMCC rejects idea of political award, negotiation with VHP during agitation and invites AIBMAC to cosponsor All India Conference.

20 Jan.

• AIBMAC holds emergency meeting and decides to continue negotiation with VHP despite opposition by Ahmad Bukhari; decides to observe Black Day on 1 February.

19 Jan.

• Advani demands permission for temple construction.
• VHP considers historicity of Ram and identity of Ayodhya as not negotiable, rejects official status for experts and rejects AIBMAC documents on these aspects.
• VHP refuses to accept UP Commission of Inquiry and its terms of reference.

21 Jan.

• Re-survey of disputed premises completed.
• District Judge Faizabad K.M. Pandey promoted as High Court Judge.

22 Jan.

• VHP decides not to continue negotiations after 5 February or to change site or site-plan.

23 Jan.

• AIBMAC changes experts.
• BMMCC expresses concern at continued negotiation with VHP, erosion of judicial process and possibility of political award and cautions Muslims against conspiracy against Masjid.

25 Jan.

• AIBMAC withdraws from experts meeting when VHP refuses 6 weeks' time and insists on not taking into account material questioning historicity of Rama and identity of Ayodhya.

26 Jan.

• Adnan Khashoggi visits India with offer to line up Saudi Arabian “fatwa” for demolition or shift of Masjid.

27 Jan.

• VHP decides to intensify agitation from 6 February.

30 Jan.

• VHP claims historical and archaeological evidence to confirm existence of Ram Temple in Ayodhya.

31 Jan.

• AIBMAC leaders dilute Black Day programme.

1 Feb.

• AIBMAC call flops; BMMCC holds token Dharna in Delhi, some State capitals and district headquarters.
• Delhi Police bans Kar Seva cassettes.
• Abdullah Bukhari links supply of oil by Iran to preservation of Babari Masjid and asks VHP to prove that Babari Masjid was built after demolishing Ram Temple.

2 Feb.

• BMMCC rejects foreign fatwa; reiterates commitment to consensus of Indian Ulema.

4 Feb.

• UP C.M. calls upon parties to accept court verdict if negotiations fail; reiterates resolve to defend rule of law.

5 Feb.

• VHP rejects AIBMAC's request for 6 weeks, reiterates site and site-plan, rejects “division” of Babari Masjid.

6 Feb.

• AIBMAC and VHP fail to reach consensus; Government decides to study documents and statements to be submitted by parties and hold further discussion with them separately.
• Saudi Arabian Ambassador denies role of Saudi Arabian Ulema or mediation.
• BJP leader Vajpayee speaks against demolition of Masjid but wants it to be shifted.

7 Feb.

• Javed Habib resigns from AIBMAC.

8 Feb.

• VHP decides against further talk with AIBMAC.

9 Feb.

• BMMCC demands clarification of government role and objective in studying rival documents. Warns against political award, bypassing legal right of Muslims.

10 Feb.

• Advani considers Ram Temple project central to unity and integrity of nation.
• B.B. Lal proposes further excavation under and near Babari Masjid to decide rival claims.

12 Feb.

• VHP rejects the idea of Special Bench for resolving the historic question.

13 Feb.

• VHP decides to discontinue talks with AIBMAC; rejects idea of dividing the mosque.
• Special Bench at Lucknow receives re-survey report; government moves application for repair of Masjid.

14 Feb.

• National Conference of ABVP supports VHP.

Kashmir Situation

16 Jan.–14 Feb.

• Militant operations intensified with frequent exchange of fire, rocket and grenade attacks on public buildings and mining of highways. Atrocities by security forces in reprisals, crackdowns and arrests. Life in Valley paralysed due to curfew and bandhs. Some surrenders reported. Government reported to have finalised Action-Plan for reviving political process.

16 Jan.

• 3 CRPF Jawans killed in grenade attack in Lal Chowk, Srinagar.

19 Jan.

• CRPF kills 17 and injures 20 in Magermal Bagh.

20 Jan.

• 2 CRPF Jawans suspended and inquiry ordered.

21 Jan.

• Bandh to commemorate Gowkadal massacre on 21 Jan 1990 called by militants paralyses life in Valley. Curfew imposed and procession checked.
• Farooq Abdullah and S. Soz meet P.M. to protest against atrocities and to advise against holding elections.

22 Jan.

• Militants attack house of P.L. Handoo, MP.

25 Jan.

• Ex-Pakistan P.M. Benazir Bhutto calls for UN intervention.

29 Jan.

• Curfew reimposed in Srinagar after grenade attack kills 3 jawans.

31 Jan.

• JD leader V.P. Singh visits Jammu.

1 Feb.

• JKLF Yasin Malik, now in Tihar Jail, reported to have rejected PM's offer of talks within framework of Constitution.

2 Feb.

• 18 hours strike against excesses of security forces in Valley.

4 Feb.

• Farooq Abdullah visits Jammu, apologises to National Conference cadre for being away from State.

5 Feb.

• Rocket attack on J & K Assembly Building.
• General strike in Valley in support of Pakistan PM's call.
• Pakistan observes nation-wide bandh.
• Farooq Abdullah returns to Delhi, blames V.P. Singh, praises PM's efforts, mentions package of proposals under consideration.

7 Feb.

• House of Addl. Solicitor General Altaf Ahmad gutted.

10 Feb.

• USA rejects Pakistan's linkage of Gulf crisis with Kashmir issue.

12 Feb.

• Farooq Abdullah leaves for UK.

13 Feb.

• Massive demonstration in Srinagar in protest against excesses of the security forces.

14 Feb.

• RSS students from ABVP National Conference focuses on Kashmir issue.
• Ladakh Cong (I) leaders reject restoration of pre-1953 position.

Muslim Organisations

21 Jan.

• Milli Jamiatul Ulema-Hind organises National Convention for National Integration. Decides to form Hind Shanti Mission.

27 Jan.

• Jamiatul-Ulema-Hind organises A.I. Anti-Communalism Convention addressed by Dy. P.M. MOS HA & Buta Singh.

8 Feb.

• Jamiatul Ulema Delegation calls on P.M.

13 Feb.

• AIMMM Markazi Council holds meeting.

14 Feb.

• JIH condemns bombing by Allies on civilians in Iraq and appeals for withdrawal of Iraq from Kuwait and ceasefire.

Miscellaneous

21 Jan.

• VHP demonstrates against AIR/Doordarshan for blacking out immersion of ashes of Kar Sevaks.

22 Jan.

• Maulana Taqi Amini passes away.

23 Jan.

• Urdu poet Anand Narain Mulla, 90, awarded Iqbal Samman by M.P. Government.
• Urs begins in Ajmer.

24 Jan.

• Sultan Shahin, ex-editor of One Nation Chronicle, alleges being sacked because he has Hindu wife.

27 Jan.

• Kuldip Nayar pleads for including video cassettes in the jurisdiction of Press Council, to be renamed Media Council.

28 Jan.

• Mr. E. Fakir Mohammed, MP, passes away.

31 Jan.

• Eminent Urdu writer Zoe Ansari, 65, passes away.

3 Feb.

• US State Department Report on Human Rights 1990 criticises India & Pakistan.
• VHP claims conversion of 45 Muslims.

7 Feb.

• Press Council censures 4 Hindi dailies of UP and Bihar for irresponsible coverage of Ayodhya events.

14 Feb.

• National Union of Journalists welcomes Press Council decision.