NATIONAL AFFAIRS
Government: *Government of Gujarat lifts ban on government servants joining or participating in activities of, RSS with HM Advani's approval. Gujarat H.C. admits petition, issue notice (23 Jan).
*UP and Himachal Pradesh follow Gujarat example.
*Cong(I), CPI(M), CPI protest and accuse BJP of subverting Constitution. President seeks clarification (4 Feb).
*Coalition partners - DMK, TDP and Samata also express misgivings.
*PM Vajpayee sees no objection as RSS is not 'a political outfit but socio-cultural organisation'. Kalyan Singh criticises PM (8 Feb)
*Muslim organisations protest move as step towards saffronisation of public administration.
*RSS softens stance; Vajpayee assures central ban to stay (14 Feb). Agrees to talk with allies (10 Feb).
*RSS agrees not to press issue (15 Feb)
Religious Freedom: *UP Religious Buildings Bill (See Text) referred by Governor to President for assent (3 Feb) .* Cong, CPI(M), CPI vow to oppose Bill.
*UP Government justifies Bill to severe linkage between ISI and Madarsas and Masjids.
*Massive protest by Muslim organisation and institutions throughout country. Eminent Muslims request President to withhold assent [See Texf] (7 Feb). AIMPLB calls for joint action by all religious minorities (8 Feb). JUH, Milli Council, IUML press with withdrawal.
Hidden Agenda: *Sangh Parivar seeks legitimatization of RSS; shows its fangs, and acts as Culture Police.
*Sangh Parivar emerges as extra-constitutional power. Parliamentary Committee seeks status paper on RSS (9 Feb); Scuttles shooting of film 'Water' on Hindu widows in Varanasi, denounces observance of Valentine Day (14 Feb), closes down fashion show in Gujarat (14 Feb), humiliates Goa teacher for setting question.
*Soz and.Shahabuddin see steady implementation of RSS hidden agenda [See Statements].
Scoffs at hijack deal; calls Hindu passengers and the pilot coward.
*Calls upon Vajpayee not to sign CTBT.
Government: *Uma Bharati's resignation accepted.
Constitution Review: *Notwithstanding massive public reservation, and opposition of Congress and CPI(M), Government establishes 11 Member Constitution Review Commission with former Ambassador Abid Hussain as a member (13 Feb).
*Christians and Muslims express fears of erosion of minority rights (15 Feb).
Assembly Elections - Bihar: *BJP-led NDA contest Bihar Assembly election on common manifesto; secular forces divided in 3 camps led by RJD, CPI and Congress.
Exit polls on first phase (12 Feb) gives lead to NDA. Congress likely to suffer reverses all over.
Small States: RJD leader Laloo Yadav proposes tribal majority Jharkhand carved out of Bihar, Orissa and MP (8 Feb).
TADA: *Law Commission confirms effective anti-terrorism law to replace TADA on the anvil (13 Feb).
ISI Scare: *ISI reported to be active in 23 districts of UP and specially on Nepal border.
Party Politics: *Kalyan Singh rules out rejoining BJP.
*A.P. ex-MP Kamaluddin Ahmed joins BJP.
*M. Afzal, ex-MP joins Congress.
Reservation: *Sonia Gandhi presses for constitutional amendment to provide reservation in promotion to SC/ST (20 Jan)
*Law Minister Jethmalani reiterates commitment to Women's Reservation Bill and denies sub-quota for OBC or Muslim women (19 Jan).
Minorities Welfare: *Maharashtra decides to re-establish State Minorities Commission (14 Feb).
Electoral Registration: Delhi H.C. asks ERO to explain deletion of 12,000 Muslim voters from Matia Mahal, Delhi (15 Feb).
Infiltration: *West Bengal plans border detention camps for Bangladesh infiltrators (10 Feb).
KASHMIR QUESTION
Insurgency: *Hizbul Mujahideen gives details of attacks and encounters during January (2 Feb). Train blasts, encounters and attacks on security forces continue.
Political Development - Autonomy Report: *J&K Government endorses and forwards Autonomy Committee Report to Centre, demands restoration of pre-1953 status (20 Jan). Minister Sagar calls independence as only alternative option (1 Feb). BJP opposes proposal; Hurriyat calls it political gimmick (13 Feb). Union Minister from Jammu slams State Government (3 Feb). BJP calls Article 370 itself dead letter and rules out more autonomy (9 Feb).
*Farooq Abdullah takes tough stand and sees autonomy as vital precondition for State remaining with India (14 Feb).
*On Hurriyat's call Valley observes Maqbool Bhat's death anniversary with total bandh.
*Pandits, Ladakh Buddhists and Jammu Students demand reorganisation of State (5 Feb).
Indo-Pakistan Relations: *Major clash on LoC (22 Jan). Both sides blame each other. India rejects Pakistan charge of violation (24 Jan).
*Indo-Pakistan Forum for Peace and Democracy urges resumption of dialogue (1 Feb).
*South Asian intellectuals call for revival of Lahore process (1 Feb).
*VHP calls for attack on militant bases in PoK.
*Pak-based militants plan final offensive (5 Feb).
*F.M. Jąswant Singh rules out talks until Pakistan stops support to cross-border terrorism and silences cry of Jihad (20 Jan). Reiterates stand (13 Feb).
P.M. Vajpayee vows to take back PoK (6 Feb).
Foreign Reaction - USA: *Senators Doschhe and Reid, after visit to India, call for increasing US involvement in Kashmir dispute. Ask India to normalise ties with Pakistan (21 Jan). Senator Johnson follows suit (23 Jan).
*Musharraf urges Clinton to play a role in resolving Kashmir issue (23 Jan).
*Clinton's offer help for resumption of bilateral dialogue (4 Feb). Musharraf offers to meet Vajpayee on Kashmir.
India rejects offer as rhetoric (7 Feb). Clinton expresses concern over tension (9 Feb). Pakistan F.M. claims that Clinton may host India-Pakistan Summit.
*Vajpayee warns USA against meddling (12 Feb)
*US finds no evidence of Pak complicity in hijacking (21 Jan) but asks Pakistan to curb militant groups and arrest hijackers. Musharraf expresses inability to contain Harkat (5 Feb). Pakistan promises action against terrorists (12 Feb).
UK: *Minister Hair holds Pakistan responsible for instability in Kashmir (21 Jan)
*Kashmiri group demonstrates outside 10 Downing St. for self-determination (4 Feb)
BABARI MASJID QUESTION
*UP CM agrees not to stop construction of Ram Mandir on Babari Masiid site by VHP 'Deacefullv' (28 Jan). disowns statement (29 ,'an). Statement condemned universally by mass media. BMMCC demands clarification by central government (See Text). Congress seeks clarification from PM' other secular parties remain silent.
*CBI Court summons all accused to appear personally on 28 March (9 Feb).
*UP Chief Secretary in 1992 deposing before Liberhan Commission, disclaims knowledge of specific threat to Babari Masjid (31 Jan).
OTHER MATTERS OF CONCERN
Communal Violence: *Communal violence in Azamgarh; 4 killed; curfew imposed (27 Jan).
*Tension over refusal of demand by Hindu students of Shibli College to permit singing of Vande Mataram on Republic Day
*JUH, Milli Council, JIH all condemn police role. AIMC Delegation meets PM (1 Feb). *SP demands CBI inquiry.
*Government transfers Commissioner, DM, DIG and SSP.
Education: *HRD Minister Joshi inaugurates Gyan Disha, National Educational TV Channel (26 Jan)
*NCERT drafts revised National Curriculum for School Education which inter alia, seeks to redefine Secularism, introduce moral instruction and rewrite history (2 Feb).
*Shahid Mehdi joins as VC in JMI and Siraj Husain in Jamia Hamdard (17 Jan).
AMU: *Muslim organisations seek new VC in AMU with no gap when present VC completes terms and amendments in the AMU Act and Statutes (17 Jan)
*2 more students rusticated; one detained student dies in police custody, inquiry ordered (26 Jan).
Haj: *Government allows 6000 more Haj pilgrims to total of 72,000, on subsidised fare; 50,000 more likely.
*Government approves subsidy of 137 crores for Haj charter with pilgrim share unchanged at 12,000 and charter fare fixed on parity with IATA.
*Congress demands probe in award of Haj Charter contract (25 Jan).
Wakf: *Delhi HC asks Jama Masjid 'Trustees' to demolish illegal structure outside Masjid or face prosecution (15 Feb).
Al-Falah Collapse: *Al-Falah Investment Group, in doldrums since early 1999, faces criminal charges; 2 Directors arrested; 2 absconding (21 Jan).
Personal Law: *Wide revulsion at creation and subsequent burial of ashes of Maulana Jamil Ilyasi's daughter-in-law. Fatwa against performance of Namaz behind him.
Reservation:*A.I. Backward Muslim Manch demonstrates in New Delhi for recognition of some Muslim sub-groups as SC (27 Jan). *Hindu MBC's demand separate quota in government service (15 Feb).
Urdu: *Anjuman Taraqqi Urdu Hind holds International Seminar on Urdu in the 20the Century (2124 Jan).
Cow Slaughter: *Gujarat launches special drive to monitor cow slaughter (15 Jan)
Human Rights: *SC upholds Calcutta H.C. order against Railway Board for payment of Rs. 10 lakhs as compensation to Bangladesh woman for gang rape (31 Jan).
Indo-Pakistan Relations: India successfully opposes Pakistan's membership of Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORARC) (22 Jan)
Other Minorities: *Alleged killer of Staines family arrested (31 Jan).
Muslim World: *Indonesian President seeks separation of Islam from politics and state and restriction to personal morality (9 Feb)
*Pakistan trial court accepts prima facie charge of conspiracy to hijack PIA plane against former PM Sharif (19 Jan).
*Pakistan drafting law to regulate and monitor Madarsas (1 Feb).
*Pakistan Shariat Court rejects notice for divorce.
Commemoration: *695th Urs of Amir Khusro observed in Delhi (24-26 Jan).
*Homage to Ali Mian pours in from all corners of country; condolence meeting in Delhi addressed by Vice President (6 Feb); AIMPLB holds condolence meeting in Lucknow (8 Feb).
*Maneka Gandhi suggests observance of birthday of Maulana Azad (11 Nov) as Education Day (12 Feb).
Obituary: *Table wizard Ustad Alla Rakha, 81, passes away in Mumbai (3 Feb)
