CHRONOLOGY
Chronology of the Month 16 January--15 February, 1996
I-NATIONAL POLITICS
Congress(1)
*V.C. Shukla, Madhavrao Scindia and Balram Jakhar resign from ministership.
*Ex-Minister H.K.L. Bhagat prosecuted for alleged
involvement in
1984 anti-Sikh riots.
*Kalpnath Rai prosecuted under TADA for harbouring terrorists.
*Muslim Ministers court imams and ulema for support. Cong(1) leaders meet groups of ulema throughout the country (19 Jan). Corruption
*Havala case dominates political scene. During the month many senior leaders including L.K. Advani, M.L. Khurana and Yashwant Sinha of BJP, V. C. Shukla, Madhavrao Scindia, Balram Jakhar and Kalpnath Rai of Cong(1), S.R. Bommai and Sharad Yadav of JD, Devi Lal of SJD, Arjun Singh of Cong(T), and Arif Md. Khan were charge-sheeted by CBI.
*V.P. Singh proposes 5-point formula against corruption in politics (24 Jun).
Janata Parivar
*NF Chairman and TDP leader NT. Rama Rao passes away (18 Jan)
*Named in Jain diaries, JD President S.R. Bommai resigns and is replaced by Laloo Prasad Yadav, JD Parliamentary Party leader Sharad Yadav resigns from Lok Sabha (28 Jan): Samta(S) leader Chandrajeet Yadav, though not charge-sheeted, tenders resignation from Lok Sabha.
*AGP undecided about joining NF (3 Feb).
*Assam JD forms 10-party alliance, excluding Left (5 Feb).
*JD acommodates Cong(1) candidate in Rajya Sabha election from Bihar (7 Feb).
*Dalit parties and groups in Maharashtra revive Republican Party (28 Jan), form alliance with JD and Left (9 Feb).
*SP leader Mulayam Singh reaffirms SP-JD alliance (9 Feb).
*BSP leader Mayavati wants to go it alone while Kanshi Ram negotiates with JD and Cong().
*DMK demands state autonomy. AIADMK undecided.
Left Front
*CPM leader Jyoti Basu attacks PM Rao for corruption. *CPI(ML) and CPI differ on feasibity of viable Third Front (20 Jan).
*CPI(MI) urges JD and SP to finalize alliar.ce, fails to organise Laloo-Mulayam meeting as difference on inclusion of BSP in NF surfaces (9 Feb).
Republic Day
*Marked by total bandh and several blasts in Kashmir and boycott by several political parties in the North-East.
Sangh Parivar
*L.K. Advani resigns from Lok Sabha and decides not to organizations. contest till cleared (16 Jan)
*RSS launches Lok Jagran Abhiyan (22 Jan).
*BJP endorses VHP's Hindu agenda (24 Jan).
*Samta(F) finalizes poll alliance with BJP (26 Jan).
Secularism
*Several conferences and seminars focus on threat to secular order including two-day conference organized by former
Minister of State Subodh Kant.
*Ex-PM Chandrashekhar cautions against divisive forces. Arjun Singh endorses Supreme Court judgement on Hindutva while Cong(1) MP Ajit Jogi files writ petition against it (16 Jan).
II-KASHMIR SITUATION
Government
*Minister of State Salman Khurshid rules out foreign mediation (17 Jan).
*Minister of State Razi rejects pre-1953 status for Kashmir. *Govt holds all-party meeting to assess election possibility. NC and BJP oppose early poll (2 Feb).
*Home Minister Chavan talks with NC leader Farooq Abdullah (17 Feb) International Reaction.
*Iran denounces rocket attack (29 Jan).
*Japan rejects Bhutto's plea for intervention by G-7.
*OIC appeals for immediate release of foreign hostages.
*UN Secretary-General Ghali evades discussion on Kashmir with Pak Foreign Minister.
Militancy
*Marked fall in level of violence.
*Eleven militants surrender (20 Jan).
*Republic Day marked by encounters and blasts.
*Clash among militant groups reported in Srinagar (6 Feb).
*Al Faran continues to hold foreign hostages.
Pakistan's Stand
*Heavy exchange of fire across Line of Actual Control; POK mosque hit by rocket of Indian origin. India denies attack (29) Jan).
*PM Bhutto appeals to Al Faran to release hostages, offers unconditional talks with India on substantive issues. India welcomes talks (4 Feb).
*Pro-Kashmir rally organized all over Pakistan (5 Feb). *Ex-Foreign Minister Yaqub Khan discusses relations with PM Rao.
Political Parties
*Farooq Abdullah reiterates demand for complete autonomy. (27 Jan).
*Hurriyat organizes total bandh on Republic Day.
*Four ex-militant leaders form forum to solve Kashmir
problem permanently and offer unconditional talks, Governor responds positively, Centre adopts cautious attitude (Feb 8). *J&K Cong(1) opposes nominated government.
*Bandh again organized by Hurriyat and JKLF to mark 12th. death anniversary of Maqbool Butt.
Marked by total bandh and several blasts in Kashmir and III-BABRI MASJID
Babri Masjid Movement
*10th anniversary of unlocking observed by various Muslim
organizations.
*BMCC submits Memorandum to President (1 Feb).
*Abul Hasan Ali Nadvi denies forgiveness to Cong(1) even if Babri Masjid rebuilt (6 Feb).
Judicial
*Special Court issues warrants of arrest against BJP and VHP
leaders (18 Jan).
*Ram Janmabhoomi Nyas leader Ramchandra Das arrested and
CHRONOLOGY
released (2 Feb)
Sadhvi Rithambra acquitted by Delhi magistrate against charges of fomenting hatred between communities by anti- Babri Masjid speech.
Mathura-Varanasi Cases
State Govt stops VHP volunteers from performing pooja on Haj the premises of Gyan Vapi Masjid (15 Jan).
Political
Cong(1) Minister G.N. Azad admits Muslim alienation because of demolition of Babri Masjid (20 Jan).
*Cong(1) General Secretary B.P Maurya and G.N. Azad offer conditional apology (21 Jan), Apology report denied later (29 Jan).
*Cong(1) Minister J.N. Mishra admits genuine Muslim anger on demolition.
Minister of State Aslam Sher Khan denies Babri Masjid problem or need for apology.
*Home Minister Chavan vows not to apologise (15 Feb).
IV-OTHER MATTERS OF CONCERN
Assam Situation
*ABSU holds 48-hr bandh on Bodoland boundary question (26 Jan).
*AASU resolves not to allow polls on basis of 1994 rolls (14 Feb).
Bombay Disturbances
*Maharashtra Govt allows term of Shri Krishna Commission of Inquiry to expire. Decision universally condemned by secular parties and eminent jurists. National Commission on Human Rights revives inquiry (25 Jan)
Shahabuddin demands financial assistance to Maharashtra Govt. to cover expenditures of Commission, or establishment of a Central Commission (27 Jan). Amnesty International condemns decision (25 Jan).
Home Minister Chavan criticizes decision as mistake (31 Jan). BJP leader Vajpayee expresses unhappiness (31 Jan). Writ petition filed against decision in Bombay (8 Feb). *Cases against Shiv Sena supremo Thackeray withdrawn by Maharashtra Govt (31 Jan).
Commemoration
*Seminar on Abdul Haque Muhaddis Dehlvi held in Delhi (17 Jan).
19th death anniversary of Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed observed officially (11 Feb).
Communal Situation
Tension in Kishtwar and Dodha due to alleged killing of Muslim family by paramilitary forces, curfew imposed (22Jan).
*Communal violence in Santrampur in Gujarat,one killed, curfew imposed.
Three accused in 1991 Rampur riot case sentenced (8 Feb).
High Court orders compensation for victims of Muzaffarnagar cases, including 10 lakhs for raped women (9 Feb). Mulayam Singh offers apology.
Economic Situation
*WB Govt forms Minorities Finance Corporation (16 Jan).
*Supreme Court permits Delhi Idgah abattoir operation (19 Feb).
Education
*Twelve degree colleges in UP recognised as minority education. institutions (18 Jan). *AMU reopens but VC's relations with teaching staff strained (29 Jan).
Jamia Millia Islamia teachers launch agitation in support of 11-point demands (6 Feb).
"One student killed an AMU campus (7 Feb).
Haj
*Haj House inaugurated in Calcutta (16 Jan).
*Govt increases Haj quota to 56,000
Hindu Chauvinism
*SC orders Maharashtra Govt to maintain status quo on renaming Aurangabad.
Maharashtra CM 'takes over' Haji Malang Dargah near Bombay and renames it Baba Malang Samadhi (4 Feb); Muslims debarred from entrance for days.
Historical Monuments
"Unauthorised construction of 'wazukhana' just outside Jama Masjid by Bukhari criticized by media, town planners, historians and architects; Shahabuddin demands demolition (20 Jan). Public interest litigation filed, High Court halts construction (14 Feb). Delhi Govt and Delhi Wakf Board remain silent spectators.
Mass Media
Supreme Court holds editor responsible for material published
in paper (23 Jan).
*Press Council castigates 'Jagran' for communal writing (8 Feb).
Muslim Organisations
Milli Parliament adopts platform in Patna; causes public furore (16 Jan).
National League and Muslim Forum form state-level alliance in UP (20 Jan).
AIMPLB Secretary advises Muslims not to vote en bloc for any party.
AIMIM(Owaisi) refused permission by High Court to hold political meeting in Makka Masjid, Hyderabad (23 Jan).
"Milli Council advises Muslims not to scatter votes.
Other Muslim Countries
*Pak Minister 'admits' custodial killings of muhajirs (3 Feb) *Amnesty International and European Parliament severely criticize Pakistan.
Personal Law
AIMPLB organises Shariat Protection Week in late January.
*Kerala High Court awards 2.5 lakhs maintenance to Muslim divorcee.
Reservation
All India Muslim Minorities Front demands reservation for support to reservation for Muslims. Muslims in proportion to population (25 Jan). Kesri reiterates support to reservation for Muslims.
*Welfare Minister Kesri criticizes Minorities Commission for poor performance (3 Feb). Chairman Sardar Ali Khan attributes it to lack of due authority and non-cooperation by Govt (5 Feb).
Urdu
All India Urdu Conference, Hyderabad decries communalisation of Urdu question (17 Jan).
AP Govt agrees to give second official language status to districts with 10% Urdu speakers.
Seminar in Delhi calls for mother-tongue as medium of education.
