NATIONAL POLITICS
General Election: *General Election held peacefully in 3 phases. Overall turnout reportedly over 60%. Election in Ladakh and Mandi deferred. Poll in Patna countermanded (21 Feb). BJP emerges as largest single party with 174; together with pre-poll and post-poll allies, claims support of 264. INC and allies emerges as second and UF-LF, the third
Congress(I): *Sonia Gandhi campaigns intensively for Congress throughout country to total exclusion of all other leaders but with mixed results. Campaign focuses on BJP's anti-secular character. *RSS files defamation case against Congress President Kesri (18 Feb). *CWC adopts cautious approach on forming Government (5 Mar). *Kesri announces decision to resign (11 Mar). Working Committee invites Sonia Gandhi to take over Sonia assumes charge (14 Mar).
BJP: *Vajpayee and Advani campaign vigorously on slogan of stability but end up with dependence on 13, later 17 parties and 5 independents to secure working majority.
*BJP tries to allay fears and apprehensions of Muslims but fails to secure significant electoral support.
*Fields 6 'Muslims' and wins Rampur, UP, seat with NAQVI who is lone representative of community in the BJP-led alliance *Pins hopes on TDP's neutrality in Lok Sabha for survival. *BJP's use of website for anti-Muslim hate propaganda widely criticised.
AIADMK: *Jayalalitha-led AIADMK and others re-emergence, with 27 seats, takes all by surprise and changes political landscape. BJP successfully pressurised to concede 7 berth in Council of Ministers and to amend National Agenda to embrace 'Tamil' demands. However, BJP vetoes her ally S. Swamy, President, JP Rajiv Murder Case: *Government refuses extension to Jain Commission (28 Feb). Final report submitted (7 Mar)
Scams: *Solicitor General of India advises President to sanction prosecution of former Ministers Sheila Kaul and P.K. Thungon in shop allotment case (26 Feb).
*Supreme Court dismisses CBI's appeal against discharge of BJP leader Advani in Hawala Case against (2 Mar).
*CBI chargesheets Thungon in disproportionate assets case. *Delhi H.C. demands Memorandum of Association of Foreign Companies which gave donation to Congress In 1993-94 (17 Feb).
Government: *In order to secure support of national and political allies, BJP promises Coordination Committee and National Agenda, keeping out controversial issues of introduction of Uniform Civil Code, deletion of Article 370 and construction of Ram Temple on Babari Masjid site, all included in BJP's Manifesto and convassing.
*On election as Leader of Parliamentary Group (7 Mar), Vajpayce stakes claim to form government. President Narayanan asks him to produce evidence to support claim of majority (10 Mar). Vajpayee finally submits list of 240 (excluding AIADMK and allies) (12 Mar). President consults leaders of INC, CPM and other UF-LF parties as well as ex-PM's. AIADMK supports BJP in writing (14 Mar). INC-UF-LF alliance having failed to stake claim, President invites Vajpayee to form Government (15 Mar).
UF: *Despite A.P. Muslim's protest, TDP breaks rank and informs President of neutrality between BJP and INC (12 Mar)
*V.P. Singh gives maximum life of 2 years to BJP-led government
Muslim Politics: *A.I. Muslim Forum, Indian National League, National Loktantrik Party and Muslim Backward Morcha form front in UP to contest all 85 seats and target SP and BSP, rather than BJP (18 Jan). Move fizzles out during election.
*Imam of Jama Masjid, Delhi, Abdullah asks Muslims to vote for 'good and honest' candidates and criticises both BJP and the UF; appeal regarded as ambivalent in supporting Congress or BJP (13 Feb).
Jamaat-e-Islami-Hind, Jamiat-ul-Ulema-e-Hind, A.I. Milli Council, A.I. Muslim Majlis-e-Mushawarat and Committee for Defence of Secularism, all call upon Muslims to endeavour to defeat BJP by supporting strongest secular candidate in each constituency irrespective of party affiliation or religion.
*A.I. Milli Council remains political situation holds disunity of secular forces responsible for BJP's gain and calls upon them to unite and form government (15 Mar).
Developments in UP: *Governor Bhandari dismisses Kalyan Singh Government and instals L.C. Dy. Leader Jagdambika Pal as C.M. (21 Feb). BJP demands sack of Governor (22 Feb). Allahabad H.C. nullifies Governor's action and reinstates Kalyan Government (23 Feb). SC endorses H.C. Order (23 Feb). President Narayanan expresses displeasure; but neither Bhandari resigns nor P.M. tenders advice to President for dismissal (26 Feb). SC directs trial of strength between Kalyan and Pal in constitution innovation. Kalyan wins (26 Feb). SC endorses result (27 Feb). *Net electoral gain in 2nd phase to BJP estimated at 7%. *Kalyan expands Ministry to include all defectors. *UP Speaker delays decision on defection of 18 BSP members.
KASHMIR SITUATION
Political Developments: *GOI extends ban on JKLF for another 2 years (17 Feb). *APHC leaders arrested for anti-election campaign (25 Feb). Hurriyat-sponsored boycott reduces poll level in Srinagar (28 Feb).
*Pandit community seeks UT status for Valley as condition for return. *BJP leader Vajpayee promises action to occupy POK; Pakistan calls it provocative (26 Feb). BJP G.S. Govindacharya reiterates pledge. Pakistan reacts strongly (6 Mar).
*Elections in Valley and Jammu held almost peacefully; NC wins 2 out of 4 including CM's son Omar Farooq from Srinagar; 1 seat goes to Congress; 1 to BJP (9 Mar).
Insurgency: *2 bomb blasts rock Valley, kill 3 (20 Feb).
Foreign Reaction: *US denies role to 'fix' Kashmir problem but aspires to play mediatory role (25 Feb).
*Russia reiterates pro-India stand but prepares ground for sale of arms to Pakistan.
BABARI MASJID
Sangh Parivar: *VHP President Ashok Singhal demands surrender of Ayodhya, Kashi and Mathura and reiterate ban on construction of any Masjid in Ayodhya (19 Feb).
*Sadhvi Rithambara, leader of Durga Vahini, threatens agitation if BJP does not implement 5-point Hindu agenda.
Title Suit: *Special Bench reserves orders on Deoki Nandan Agarwal's plea for transfer of some donations in makeshift temple to him (28 Feb). Witness Rama Shankar Upadhyay denies exact mention of exact birthsite of Rama or alleged destruction of Temple in any religious book
Foreign Reaction: *Pakistan comments adversely on BJP's manifesto calling for construction of temple over Babari Masjid site; draws attention of UN, OIC and other international organisations (26 Feb).
OTHER MATTERS OF CONCERN
Terrorism: *Serial bomb blasts in Coimbatore kill 60, injure 100. Tamil Nadu police denies BJP assertion that Advani was target of bomb blast (19 Feb). P.M. Gujra! blames ISI (20 Feb). SIM and SIO protest against large- scale arrest of Muslim youth and police atrocities. Al-Umma Founder S.A. Basha detained under NSA (8 Mar). H.C. upholds ban (10 Mar).
*Bomb blast in Mumbai kills 4 (27 Feb).
*Delhi police accuses Laskhar-e-Taiba, Pakistan of funding terrorism; Arrests 4 suspects, all with Muslim names (9 Mar).
*Shahabuddin, Hamid and Moonis condemn terrorism but caution authorities against premature leakage of names of those arrested in press (See Text).
Bombay Disturbances: *Sri Krishna Commission submits its report to Government of Maharashtra (16 Feb). Congress(I), Ulema Council and Milli Council demand publication (19 Feb). State Government promises to table report in next session of Assembly.
Communal Violence: *NCM Committee on Communal Riots assigns task of preparing draft of a bill on Communal Riots to Rajiv Dhavan.
*Ajmer rocked by communal violence (17 Feb); Muslims defying curfew to perform Friday prayer dispersed by force (20 Feb); Khadims sit in Dharma to press for judicial inquiry. Houses searched for weapons; nearly one hundred persons arrested (21 Feb). Ajmer observes total bandh (22 Feb). Curfew relaxed (24 Feb). *Communal clash in Akola (11 Feb); police atrocities reported; Imam of Jama Masjid arrested.
*Communal clash in Firozabad; 10 hurt (18 Feb).
*Tamil Nadu Government appoints Justice Gokal Krishnan Commission to inquiry at Coimbatore riots in December, 1997 (22 Feb)
Haj: *Haj charter subsidy of Rs. 122 crores formally approved, based on regular return airfare for 66000 pilgrims. Shahabuddin protests against profiteering by national carriers and short-sighted gift to Muslim-baiters.
*First batch of Indian pilgrims reach Jeddah (28 Feb). Total number likely to exceed 100,000.
Wakf: *Delhi Wakf Board Chairman asks Government of Delhi for CBI probe into Board's affairs during last 25 years and loss of Wakf land worth more than 2000 crores. CM orders vigilance probe (8 Mar).
*Rajasthan H.C. appoints D.J. Ajmer as Receiver of donations in Dargah for disbursement to Dewan, Khadims and Dargah management in accordance with 1933 Order.
AMU: *Rising tension between Bihari and UP students rupts in violence resulting gun-fight and arson (17 Feb). Students demand resignation of Rector, accuse V.C. of indifference and nominated Union President of involvement. Normalcy restored with mutual understanding (3 Mar). *AMU V.C. rules out election for Students Union.
Urdu: *Urdu translators and Urdu teachers in UP, selected in 1995 and 1996, reported not appointed despite H.C. orders (12 Mar)
Hindu Chauvinism: *VHP organises violent protest against inclusion of M.F. Husain's old painting of Sita in Delhi exhibition (24 Feb).
Renaming of Places: *INTACH's writ petition against renaming of Connaught Place and Connaught Circus after Rajiv and Indira Gandhi admitted. Government pleads competence and custom (27 Feb).
Communal Writings: *Publisher's writ petition against ban on Prof. A. Moghni's book Aurangzeb admitted by Delhi H.C. (8 Mar).
Commemoration :* Jamia Millia Islamia holds Seminar on Zakir Husain to mark birth centenary (12 Mar).
Muslim World :* India and Bangladesh reach understanding to resolve the enclaves issue on basis of free option of citizenship to inhabitants (9 Mar).
*Albania President expresses hopes for closer ties with India (12 Mar). *Wali Khan's ANP breaks off 90 year old alliance with ruling Pakistan Muslim League on renaming NWFP as 'Pakhtoonkhwa' (26 Feb).
*UNSG Kofi Annan to signs agreement with Iraq on further weapons' inspection (23 Feb). Agreement endorsed by Security Council stops US attack.
Indo-Pakistan Relations: *Pakistan F.M. rejects confederation idea and wants conflict-free and tension- free ties with India (25 Feb). *Pakistan blames RAW for bomb blasts in Pakistan (12 Mar).
Obituary: S.M. Yahya, former Finance Minister, Karnataka, 59 passes away (29 Jan). *Noted Novelist Atia Husain, 84, dies in London (23 Feb). *Eminent Scholar Hasan Musanna Nadvi, 87, passes away in Karnataka (1 Mar).
*Scholar and Writer Habibul Haq Nadvi, 60, passes away in Durban, S. Africa.
