NATIONAL POLITICS

Congress: *AICC approves Sonia Gandhi's proposal for 33 per cent reservation for women 'and 20 per cent for OBC, SC, ST and Minorities in all party posts and gives her a free hand to reconstitute the Congress bodies to the State level (18 Dec). Outlines strategy of striving for power on its own.

*Sonia Gandhi flays Sangh Parivar as intolerant and communal but relates Secularism to Hindu tolerance (12 Jan

*Bihar Congress sharply criticises Laloo Yadav (15 Jan).

*Congress leader G.N. Azad accuses DMK Government of harassing Muslims in Tamilnadu (14 Jan)

Sangh Parivar: RSS: "'Chintan Baithak' considers dialogue with Muslims and Christians. Criticises BJP Government for anti-people policies (20 Dec).

*Dr. A.P.J. Kalam inaugurates golden jubilee session of ABVP, student's wing of RSS. Those present include Wahiddudin Khan (25 Dec).

*Farooq Abdullah gives clean chit to RSS and advises Muslims not to treat it as untouchable or as adversary (10 Jan)

*Bajrang Dal attacks egg-sellers, liquor shops and brothels in Gujarat (20 Dec)

BJP: *National Executive meets in Bangalore (3 Jan). Uneasy relationship between RSS and BJP revealed.

*Vajpayee asserts himself and gains free hand (3 Jan) Shiv Sena: Derecognition demanded for misuse of Shiva for political gain (21 Dec)

Samajwadi Party: .S.P. President Mulayam Singh blames Congress for rise of BJP and declares it enemy No.1 (16 Dec). Rules out alliance or tie-up with Gongress (22 Dec). Accuses Congress of being hand-in-glove with BJP (27 Dec). Demands inclusion of RJD (Laloo) in Third Front (10 Jan)

Left Parties: *CPM suggests Third Front without 'discredited' constituents of United Front (13 Jan).

RPI: *National Convention appeals to all democratic and secular parties to defeat communal forces (28 Dec).

BSP: V.P. Mayawati intends to contest all UP seats, when election is held (10 Jan).

AGP: C.M. Patnaik denies tilt towards BJP or Congress (31  Dec).

NATIONAL ISSUES

Reservation for Women in Legislature: *MOS Uma Bharti insists on 50% quota for OBC's, SC and ST (2 Jan).

*SC/ST Parliamentary Forum opposes Bill in present form; demands SC and ST sub-quotas (17 Dec).

*Shahabuddin reiterates demand for sub-quota for Muslim  women.

Human Rights: *UP, Bihar and Haryana refuse to set up State Human Rights Commissions. Only 8 States have such Commission at present (22 Dec)

Education: *Association of Indian Universities expresses concern at crosion of autonomy of universities by statutory bodies like A.I. Council for Technical Education (22 Dec).

Small States: *Bills on Uttaranchal and Chhattisgarh tabled in Lok Sabha (22 Dec). Vananchal (Jharkhand) Bill also tabied (23 Dec). Demands for Vidarbha, Bodoland and Andaman voiced in Lok Sabha.

*Congress leader Scindia supports Jharkhand Bill (14 Jan).

Armed Forces: *Chief of Naval Staff Bhagwat sacked unceremoniously (30 Dec). Move widely criticised. Government fails to produce credible reasons; Defence Minister announces restructuring of Ministry.

Corruption: Fodder Scam: *Former Director CBI Joginder Singh raps ex P.M. Gujral for shielding Laloo Prasad Yadav (13 Dec). *Mishra granted bail by S.C.(18 Dec).

Terrorism: *Car bomb explodes in Guwahati, near CM's office; 8 killed (18 Dec).

*ULFA blows up Assam Police jeep; 10 killed.

Electoral Reforms: *Bill for proxy voting by defence personnel tabled. *CEC Gill appeals for top priority to delimitation. *High Power Committee suggests State funding of elections (14 Jan).

Infiltration: *In a deliberate move to revive Foreigner's Issue Assam Governor Sinha raises bogey of Bangladeshi immigrants taking over NE India in report to President (16 Dec). Leaked Report creates furore; divides Assam on predictable lines (17 Dec). Assam Congress demands recall of Governor (26 Dec).

*BJP President endorses Governor and wants repeal of IMDT Act (27 Dec). *Central Government actively considers repeal of IMDT Act (12 Jan), JUH, Milli Council and UMF,

oppose repeal (28 Dec).

*SC demands status report on Bangladeshi immigrants from Centre and W. Bengal (24 Dec).

Anti-Christian Violence: Fresh explosion of anti-Christian violence in Gujarat on Christmas (25 Dec). Churches and schools attacked in the Dangs. Gujarat Government looks the other way (28 Dec). Centre asks for report. 2 more Churches burnt. Central Government dispatches study team (29 Dec).

More violence in Gujarat; Central Team blames Sangh Parivar outfits and local officials (31 Dec). PM visits Dangs (10 Jan). Violence continues in Gujarat (11 Jan). Bishops appeal to President (13 Jan).

*Congress condemns anti-Christian violence. Asks VHP to withdraw anti-Sonia remarks (28 Dec). Blames BJP and Vajpayee Government (29 Dec). Expresses disappointment with Government's response. Calls Sangh Parivar fascist (30 Dec). Congress leaders accuse VHP of terrorising minorities (2 Jan)

*TDP and Left condemn VHP's remark against Mother Teresa and Amartya Sen (28 Dec).

*National Commission for Minorities summons Chief Secretary and DGP Gujarat for failure to protect Christians (28 Dec). Recommends invoking Article 355 in Gujarat (11 Jan).

Conversion: *VHP announces 3-year plan to reconvert non-Hindus to Hinduism in 200 districts (24 Dec).

VHP charges and Sonia Gandhi with backing anti-Hindu Christian for building vote bank (29 Dec).

*VHP seeks ban on conversion (12 Jan).

*PM calls for debate on conversion (10 Jan). BJP supports PM (11 Jan). Some Christian leaders welcome PM's calls. Congress and left reject call as irrelevant and diversionary (11 Jan). Sangh Parivar decides to keep issue alive (12 Jan)

*Congress suggests reference to Supreme Court; BJP rejects (13 Jan).

*Congress leader Shukla decries conversion of tribals to Christianity (14 Jan).

*While Vajpayee distances himself from VHP's anti-Christian move. Mahajan supports VHP on missionaries (30 Dec).

*Janata Party leader Swamy demands dismissal of Gujarat Government (1 Jan).

*Lok Shakti chief Hegde condemns VHP and Bajrang Dal (1Jan). *RLM urges President to dismiss Gujarat Government (12 Jan)

*RSS Chief condemns attacks on Churches but blames Christians for provocation .

* RSS and VHP dissociate from Hindu Jagran Manch and demand judicial probe (2 Jan).

*BJP MP seeks White Paper on Missionaries.

*VHP admits reconversion of 500 tribals in Dangs (13 Jan).

Foreign Reaction: *VHP president mcets US Ambassador and Canadian High Commissioner (12 Jan).

*BJP objects to foreign comments (13 Jan).

BABARI MASJID QUESTION

VHP: *Board of Trustees decides to defer fixation of date of commencement of construction of proposed Mandir to Dharam Sansad scheduled for 5-7 February in Ahmedabad (30 Dec).

*Singhal reiterates VHP not bound by any judicial verdict (30 Dec).

Government: *Home Minister suggests reference to Supreme Court to decide question of prior existence of temple on Babari Masjid site, in light of observations of Imam of Haram Sharif (16 Dec).

KASHMIR QUESTION

Political: * Hurriyat reiterates its will to fight to logical conclusion (22 Dec).

*Shabbir Shah contacts Kashmiri Pandit leaders in Delhi to pave way for return to Valley (11 Jan)

*10 parties and groups in POK issued joint declaration to continue struggle (2 Jan).

Militancy: *Army finds no evidence of Taliban's or Osama bin Laden's involvement in Valley (1 Jan).

Pakistan: *Lashkar-e-Tayyaba calls for 'Jihad' and 'Ittehad' and opposes reference to UN, dominated by the USA (11 Jan).

*Pakistan Information Minister considers Pakistan incomplete without Kashmir (28 Dec).

UK: *Some British MP's calls on UNSG to appoint Special Representative for Kashmir (23 Dec).

OTHER MATTES OF CONCERN

Ban on Film: *Naib Imam Jama Masjid Delhi criticises Dilip Kumar and Shabana Azmi for approaching Supreme Court in favour'of film 'Fire' (17 Dec). Tanzeem Allah-o-Akbar, Bombay demands ban (21 Dec).

Vande Mataram Controversy: *MOS Naqvi condemns opposition to Saraswati Vandana and Vande Mataram (20 Dec).

*Justice Krishna lyer suggests reciting Preamble of Constitution rather than Saraswati Vandana (27 Dec).

*Haryana BJP proposes making Vandana and Vande Mataram compulsory in schools (23 Dec)

Minorities Commission: *NCM organises. Minorities Rights Day with ex-President S.D. Sharma as Chief Guest to mark the 6 anniversary of UN Declaration (19 Dec).

*Seeks minority status for Hindus in 6 States including J&K and Punjab (13 Jan)

AMU: *HRD Minister Joshi breaks impasse. Mediates ag.eement between VC and junior doctors. Agitation called off following VC's agreement to dissolve ad hoc Students Union, hold Union election, withdraw personal action against doctors and settle criminal cases in their favour (23 Dec). Ad hoc Union dissolved (27 Dec).

Education: *W. Bengal decides to reintroduce English from primary level (21 Dec).

Urdu: *International Seminar on Ghalib concludes. Ex-PM Gujarat and CM Sheila Dixit address concluding Session (15 Dec). *Urdu University, Hyderabad, observes Foundation

Day (12 Jan).

Communal Violence: *Communal clash in Suratkal near Mangalore; Karnataka Government blames VHP and Pajrang Dal. 7 killed (30 Dec). Violence affects to Mangalore (3 Jan).

*Nikhrail Massacre (Santhal vs Muslim) raised in Lok Sabha, Home Minister promise amendment in Land Reform Act, if necessary (21 Dec).

*Communal clash in Amod (Broach, Gujarat). 2 killed (30 Dec).

Wakf: *Delhi Wakf Board faces financial crisis (12 Jan).

Iftar Parties: *President, Vice-President, PM, Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and leaders of various political parties host Iftar during Ramazan. Media link it to competition for Muslim votes.

Commemoration: *Bajrang Dal decides to disrupt official observance of bi-centenary of Tipu Sultan's martyrdom (29 Dec)

*Delhi CM Dixit announces development scheme for Dargah Nizamuddin (16 Dec).

Obituary: *Eminent author Ma'el Khairabadi, 86, passes away in Rampur (18 Dec).

Indo-Pakistan Relations: *Shiv Sena 'impose' ban on Pakistan cricket team; Shiv Sainiks dig up pitch in Bombay and Delhi. Thackeray rejects PM's appeal (13 Jan).

*Pakistan-India People's Forum for Peace and Harmony condemns Shiv Sena for obstruction to reconciliation (11 Jan). *70 prominent citizens of India and Pakistan appeals for sincere dialogue for settlement of Kashmir problem (16 Dec).

*PM of POK demands severing cultural and trade ties with India (12 Jan).

Muslim World: Iraq: *Left Parties condemn US-UK air strikes against Iraq. PM Vajpayee condemns attack in Parliament (17 Dec). *AIMMM and JIH condemn attack.

Kosovo: *OSCE threatens to reconsider monitoring mission, if Serb repression and Albanian terrorism continue (28 Dec).

Pakistan: *Military courts in Karachi sentence MQM workers to death.

*European Parliament condemns Pakistan for violation of human rights and treatment of minorities. Calls for rejecting Shariat Bill (20 Dec).

*Tehrik-e-Jafaria Pakistan withdraws support to Nawaz Sharif Government (14 Jan).