NATIONAL POLITICS
BJP: *National Executive accuses Congress, Left and RLM of ganging up to undermine 1998 mandate, calls for coordination among coalition partners and blames past regimes for present troubles (23 Aug).
*BJP pleads coalition agenda against RSS criticism on Swadeshi and other ideological issues. *AIADMK fires many salvos but finally denies threat to withdraw support (8 Sept)
*BJP-Shiv Sena differences surface in Maharashtra (18 Aug).
Bihar Situation :* Samata Party forces government's hands on Bihar. CBI raids official residence of CM (21 Aug). Laloo and Mulayam (RLM) protest. BJP President favours dismissal of State Government (7 Sept). Congress opposes President's rule (11 Sept).Laloo Yadav opposes formation of Vananchal.
Congress: *Sharad Pawar and Sitaram Kesri continue to snipe at Sonia Gandhi. *President Sonia Gandhi indicates Congress readiness to form government if Vajpayee Government falls (22 Aug). *Congress organises Leaders' Camp at Panchmarhi. Sonia Gandhi reiterates readiness to form alternative government, admits letting down minorities and demonstrates control over organisation (6 Sept). Panchmarhi Declaration couched in vague language adopted; rejects RLM's overtures for alliance/ coalition and is seen by many as political gimmick (7 Sept). *Congress(I) adopts a moral code of conduct for party activists.
Left: *CPM adopts soft line towards and declares tactical support to Congress to thwart consolidation of the rightist forces to overthrow BJP and to save democracy and secularism (27 Aug). *CPI Congress calls for left unity and formation of the Third Front, a secular democratic front (14 Sept)
DMK :* Karunanidhi hints at support, if Jayalalitha withdraws (20 Aug)
*Home Ministry deletes Karunanidhi's name from ATR on Jain Report (24 Aug). BJP denies deal.
RLM: *SP National Executive attacks Vajpayee Government, criticises nuclear blasts, welcomes Srikrishna Report, denies love for Congress but offers to extend support in national crisis (27 Aug).
IUML: *Mulayam Singh addresses IUML Rally in Calicut (29 Aug). IUML offers to join Secular Front (12 Sept).
Human Rights :* NHRC asks CM's to set up State Commissions (16 Aug) recommends compulsory registration of marriage (18 Aug), protects rights of undertrials (23 Aug), probes into mass cremation in Punjab (13 Sept).
Nuclear Test: *India and USA continue talks on terms for India signing CTBT. Pakistan agrees to give up nuclear weapons if US agrees to mediate on Kashmir (27 Aug)
Global Terrorism: *US missiles strike Sudan and Afghanistan to avenge Africa bombings (22 Aug). Vajpayee favours international initiatives but 'welcomes' US attack on training camps in Afghanistan (22 Aug). JIP and JUH cendemn US action. Shahabuddin criticises US action as violation of international law (25 Aug). NAM Summit condemns US attack on Sudan but remains silent on Afghanistan.
Electoral Reforms: *CPI rejects minimum educational qualification for candidates (17 Aug). *CEC recommends President's rule in States during election (25 Aug). Congress and BJP and other national parties reject proposal (26 Aug).
Ideology: *Former PM Gujral cautions country against forces of fundamentalism while releasing Arun Shourie's book (17 Aug).
*HM Advani advocates Dharam Rajya but 'not theocratic' state (18 Aug)
*Former PM Deve Gowda regrets use of religion and caste as vote-banks, warns against misuse of secularism, admits failure to implement welfare programme for minorities (24 Aug).
Terrorism: *ULFA blasts Guwahati railway station (24 Aug).
Reservation: *Congress demands law to implement SC/ST reservation (21 Aug).
*Anti-reservation organisations launches joint agitation against reservation.
*SC/ST Commission rejects Sub-quotas for SC's in AP but recommends fresh look to eliminate disparities (28 Aug)
Srikrishan Report: *Opposition Parties condemn BJP/ Shiv Sena stand on Report and target Maharashtra Government. PM asked to convene NIC. Congress holds Dharna in Parliament (16 Aug). V.P. Singh criticises state government (21 Aug).
*300 organisations from Maharashtra petition Supreme Court against rejection of Report by State Government (21 Aug).
*CM Joshi refuses to arrest Thackeray even if ordered by Supreme Court (24 Aug)
*AIMMM and Shahabuddin condemn Maharashtra Government and AIMC sets up legal committee.
BABARI MASJID QUESTION
*BMMCC meets to review situation (17 Aug)
*AIR/DD advised Babari Masjid as disputed structure or site (19 Aug)
*Uma Bharti accuses Left and Congress for scuttling surrender of site by Muslims (23 Aug).
*Ram Janambhoomi Trust not to wait for green signal from government or political party, prepared to start construction without waiting for judicial order (24 Aug)
*VHP regrets BJP's and Government's silence on Ram Mandir (25 Aug).
*2 Shankaracharyas call temple construction move politically motivated; want solution through consensus or court.
*Distt. administration bans S.P. Conference on Babari Masjid in Faizabad (28 Aug).
KASHMIR SITUATION
*Insurgency largely shifts to Jammu and HP. Low level killings contiunue in Valley. Foreign militants among killed.
*Militants strike again in HP (18 Aug).
*Army chief describes security situation in Jammu India-Pakistan :* Pakistan resumes firing in Kargil (21 Aug)
*Fernandes rules out demilitarisation of Siachen (17 Aug).
*India and Pakistan agree to modalities for talks to include Kashmir (2 Sept). Pakistan raises issue at NAM Summit (3 Sept).
*India rules out hot pursuit of militants into PoK Aug).
Political Development: *State Panchayat polls postponed (16 Aug).
*Hurriyat write to UNSG; sends delegation to Human Rights Commission in Geneva (16 Aug).
International Reaction: *President Mandela refers to Kashmir problem at NAM Summit. Vajpayee finds it unacceptable (3 Sept).
*UN SG refers to Kashmir in Report to UNGA, 1998. India finds it 'routine'
*Ex-PM of France Fabian supports bilateral negotiation (18 Aug)
*Advani criticises USA's double standards in dealing with trans-border terrorism.
OTHER MATTERS OF CONCERN
Reservation: *Ex-VC Hamid proposes countrywide agitation for reservation for Muslims in employment, education and legislatures and quota for Muslim women (21 Aug).
Infiltration: *Bangladesh rejects India's contention of 8 million Bangladeshis in India as illogical (21 Aug).
Protests against 'push-back' of so-called illegal immigrants, resulting in confrontation on border (26 Aug). FM Azad denies any illegal Bangladeshi infiltration in India.
*AASU demands repeal of Illegal Migrants Act, 1983 (9 Sept).
Minority Commission: *Religious Harmony Group holds first meeting (26 Aug).
*Recommends marriage of Muslim inmates of UP Nari Niketans only with prior approval of State Minorities Commission.
Other Minorities: *Sikh leader Tohra demands further relief for victims of Delhi riots and institutions of Commission of Inquiry (20 Aug).
*VHP criticises missionary's role in education (23 Aug).
*Sonia Gandhi addresses Jain Mahasabha (13 Sept).
Communal Violence: *Communal violence (Hindu- Christian) in Sanjeli town (Dahod, Gujarat) during Janmashtami (15 Aug). Mary's statue destroyed.
Renaming of Places: *HM Advani sharply criticised for suggesting renaming of Lal Quila (14 Sept).
Defamation: *Bombay Muslims protest against film song.
Urdu: *Shahabuddin suggests to AP CM facilities for teaching of Urdu and through the medium of Urdu and for its use in administration (18 Aug).
Islamic Culture: *ICCR organises international session on Impact of Islam on Indian Civilisation. A.R. Kidwai and A.M. Khusro speak (3-4 Sept) Indo-Pakistan Relation: *No response to candle-light vigil at Wagah from Pakistan on 14-15 Aug (15 Aug).
Muslim World: *Vajpayee criticises Shariat Bill in Pakistan as a 'step backward' (29 Aug). CPM expresses concern (30 Aug). Hurriyat welcomes it (29 Aug).
*Bahais accuse Iran of oppression (18 Aug)
*India expresses concern over Taliban advance in Afghanistan (18 Aug).
Obituary :* S. Bashiruddin, ex-Prof. of Journalism, 62 passes away in Hyderabad (21 Aug).
*Maulana Abdul Rauf Barelvi, freedom fighter, 85, passes away in Bareilly (27 Aug).
*Prof. Qayamuddin Ahmed ex-Prof. of History, passes away in Patna (27 Aug).