General Election: Manifestos: *BJP, Congress, UF, LF and JD issue Manifestos reiterating well-known position. Congress Manifesto pays special attention to problems of religious minorities. BJP Manifesto commits itself to construction of Ram Janambhoomi Mandir on Babari Masjid site; omits mention of Mathura and Varanasi Masjids.
Congress: Sonia Gandhi's election campaign restores sagging morale to Congress cadre; puts President Kesri out of business. Sonia Gandhi emerges as prime contender for leadership of Congress parliamentary party or at least as most decisive factor in choice, regrets Demolition, Operation Blue Star and Anti Sikh massacre. Attacks BJP as communal and divisive, a threat to secular order and national unity. Also highlights long experience and dynasty's role.
UF-LF: *Secular parties fail to form a nationwide alliance, giving rise to triangular contests everywhere - BJP, Congress and UF-LF. But UF parties having failed to reach seat adjustment, UP and Bihar most crucial States face four or even five-sided contests. Mulayam Singh Yadav refuses to terms with Congress or BSP or accommodate even JD or Left. In Bihar adjustment between Congress and Laloo Prasad Yadav's RJD fails to materialise. Negotiation between Congress and Vaghela's RJP in Gujrat and between Congress and BSP in MP also fail. In Maharashtra Congress, RPI and SP and in Punjab Congress and BSP form alliances. Congress splits in Bihar. Mishra's Jan Congress joins hands with SP.
*PM Gujral's candidature from Jalandhar with SAD's (and indirectly BJP) support faces much criticism.
*UF-LF harps on clean record.
BSP: *Kanshi Ram does not rule out deal with BJP after election (18 Jan) but raises battle cry against saffron wave (20 Jan).
BJP: *BJP weaves national network and enters into alliance with Samata Party (Bihar), Trinamul Congress (W. Bengal), AIADMK (TN), SAD (Punjab), HVP (Haryana), TDP(NTR) (AP) and Hegde's LS (Karnataka).
*BJP promises 'common programme', if alliance is voted for power (30 Jan)
*BJP gives tickets to some defectors from Congress and other parties but not to all; 6 Muslims got BJP tickets but not Aslam Sher Khan or Ayub Khan or Abrar Ahmad. Fails to make dent in Muslim ranks, despite Advani's soft tones and Vajpayee's liberal mask. Vajpayee's article on web-site raises furore and exposes real face of Hindu fascism.
*Vajpayee and Advani emerge as major campaigners on slogans of stability, ability and good governance.
Post-Election Coalition: *With consensus on re-emergence of hung parliament, anti-BJP parties test waters for viable coalition while reiterating old positions. UF-LF and Congress leadership establish informal contacts on possibility of coalition.
*CPM does not rule out joining coalition.
*Congress likely to emerge as the largest party inclined to head coalition and not extend support from outside.
*V.P. Singh urges Congress and UF not to take hostile public postures and keep doors open for talks.
*Shahabuddin foresees Congress-led coalition (13 Feb).
Terrorism: *Special Court's judgement in Rajiv Gandhi assassination case does not cut any shadow on DMK thus vindicates UF Government's refusal to drop DMK Ministers as demanded by Congress.
*Serial bomb blasts in Coimbatore on eve of Advani's visit kill at least 32 and injure over 50 persons; Muslim terrorist outfits Al-Umma and Jihad Committee held responsible and banned (14 Jan). Both PM and CM see ISI's hand. *Communal violence and police repression follow (15 Jan).
Human Rights: *US State Deptt's Human Rights Report for 1997 indicts India for violation, in comparatively soft terms (30 Jan). 22 US Congress ask for economic sanction if Amnesty and other Human Rights groups not allowed to visit India (13 Feb).
Muslim Politics: *JIH pleads for democratic alliance to field common candidate in every constituency and, failing that, for voters to choose strong anti-fascist and trustworthy candidate with good character.
*AIMC calls upon voters unitedly to defeat BJP and its allies and refrain from dividing their votes.
*Majlis-e-Ulema-Hind expresses appreciation for Congress apology, calls for secular unity, embracing Congress, in order to defeat fascist and communal forces.
*Indian National League supports SP in UP, RJD -Congress in Bihar, TDP in AP and DMK-TMC in Tamilnadu and generally asks secular voters to defeat BJP
*AMU Students Union supports Congress.
*Bombay Muslims decide to vote for candidates capable of defeating BJP-Shiv Sena candidates.
*Bukharis criticise all political parties and asks Muslims to vote for 'good and honest candidates' of secular character. Appeal generally interpreted as supporting voting for good candidates of BJP as well.
*Committee for Defence of Secularism appeals for massive support to the strongest candidate of a secular party to defeat BJP and its allies, irrespective of religion, caste or party label (See Appeal).
*Forum for Communal Harmony appeals for support to secular candidates.
Scams: *Assam Governor Sinha rejects CBI's plea for sanction to prosecute C.M. Praful Mahanta in LOC Case (5 Feb)
*President Narayanan refuses CBI's request to prosecute former ministers Satish Sharma, Shiela Kaul and P.K. Thungan in petrol and gas dealership and housing and shop allotment cases (10 Feb)
*Bofors: Sonia Gandhi demands publication of Bofors papers to identify beneficiaries and to absolve late Rajiv Gandhi. BJP supports demand; Government refuses on account of prior commitment to Swiss authorities, sous not to scuttle further probe (17 Jan).
KASHMIR SITUATION
Insurgency: *Massacre of 23 Kashmiri Pandits by foreign mercenaries in Vandhama near Srinagar universally condemned by political leaders (26 Jan). PM Gujral and CM Abdullah blame Pakistan (28 Jan) Hurriyat calls for protest bandh (1 Feb). Kashmiri organisations in USA appeal to UN to save Pandits (4 Feb). State Government plans to shift Kashmiri Hindus to safety (5 Feb).
*Massacre of Muslim villagers by Security forces in Doda Distt, on Id-ul-fitr; 11 killed, 40 injured during cordon and search(30 Jan); Jammu Muslims observe bandh (31 Jan). Hurriyat organises protest bandh in Valley (2 Feb). Shahabuddin asks PM to stop operations on festivals (3 Feb).
Political Developments: *JKLF President Amanullah Khan calls on India and Pakistan to quit Kashmir and reiterates independence as only solution (28 Jan). Admits that liberation movement in Valley has faded with installation of elected Government (2 Feb).
*Shabbir Shah supports Hurriyat's boycott of Lok Sabha election (18 Jan).
*Congress leader Mufti Md. Sayeed calls for unconditional talks with all groups (1 Feb).
*Valley commemorates 14th death anniversary of Maqbool Batt with total bandh (13 Feb).
*Farooq Abdullah warns of revolt if Article 370 be scrapped (11 Feb).
*Hurriyat leaders seek permission to participate in international conference abroad (12 Feb).
*Farooq names son Omar as NC candidate from Srinagar. Pakistan's Stand: *PM Sharif calls Kashmir core issue which should be sincerely addressed by India (17 Jan).
*Pakistan demands Indian apologies for atrocities by security forces (31 Jan).
*Sharif reiterates readiness to engage in talks on Kashmir with any government after general election.
*Sharif accuses India of building war-machine for hegemony over South Asia (14 Feb).
Foreign Reaction - USA: * US Congressman Pablone wants 'internally displaced people' status for Kashmiri Pandits (29 Jan).
BABARI MASJID QUESTION
General Election 1998: *Sonia Gandhi claims Rajiv Gandhi, had he been alive, would have intervened to save Babari Masjid. JD refutes claim on ground of Rajiv Gandhi's role in unlocking in 1986 and Shila Nyas in 1989. Mulayam Singh also cautions Sonia Gandhi to steer clear of Ayodhya issue (18 Jan)
*Congress manifesto offers unconditional apology for demolition, holds PM Rao responsible (24 Jan). Denies him party ticket but for some other reason (29 Jan). UF ridicules Congress (25 Jan). Arjun Singh feels apology come too late to influence voters (30 Jan). Shahabuddin calls repeated apology too little, too late.
Thackeracy Proposal: *Shiv Sena leader Bal Thackeray proposes construction of monument on disputed site and of Mandir and Masjid on separate plots (9 Jan). VHP criticises proposal and BJP dissociates itself (10 Jan).
Samata Party President Fernandes hopeful of BJP adopting pragmatic stand (11 Jan). BMMCC considers proposal as starting point for negotiation by all concerned (14 Jan) Singhal calls Thackeray unreliable (18 Jan).
*Thackerav suggests construction of memorial to 1857 hero Mangal Pandey on Babari Masjid site (25 Jan) Shahabuddin rejects suggestion.
*Tahir Mahmood welcomes proposal.
BJP Stand: *BJP presses for construction of proposed Mandir on Babari Masjid site (17 Jan). Katiyar speaks of settlement on lines of Somnath (19 Jan). Advani rules out apology for demolition (17 Jan). Vajpayee proposes legislation if negotiations fails (28 Jan) but prefers consensus AIADMK asks BJP to put Ayodhya, Mathura and Kashi in backburner or in deep freeze for at least 20 years.
*Another BJP ally Trinamul Congress offers apologies (7 Feb). *Samata calls demolition a national tragedy.
Criminal Cases: *UP Government withdraws criminal cases pending since 1990 against Karsevaks; clarifies that cases relating to demolition will be considered later (4 Feb). EC refuses to intervene.
*BJP/VHP leaders appeal to H.C. against Special Courts order for attending hearing (23 Jan).
OTHER MATTERS OF CONCERN TO THE MUSLIMS
Personal Law: *BJP reiterates commitment to introduction of uniform civil code in its manifesto; proposes a Commission to draft composite code with elements from all personal laws for national debate.
*Advani allays Muslim fear of imposition of Hindu laws on them (4 Feb). G.S. Naidu emphasises voluntary and optional character of UCC so that people may follow their own personal law (5 Feb)
Electoral Registration: *Supreme Court admits JUH's petition but reforms to stay Election Commission's order to deny voting right to 3.75 lakh voters, mostly Bengali-speaking Muslims, on ground of disputed citizenship (16 Feb).
Haj: *Ministry of Civil Aviation proposes per capita subsidy of Rs.18,000, totalling to Rs. 122 crores on airlift for Haj 1998 (12 Feb). Shahabuddin objects to hike of Haj charter fare to normal airfare.
Sectarianism: *Barelvi-Deobandi clash in Bombay; 2 killed (19 Jan).
*Shias and Sunnis peacefully take out Azadari and Madh- e-Sahaba processions in Lucknow after 2 decades; Kalyan Singh and BJP claim credit (21 Feb)
Reservation: *J&K directs strict implementation of reservation for SC (8%) and ST (10%) in public employment (21 Jan).
*Madras High Court rules against mandatory reservation in promotion.
*National Commission for SC/ST submits special report to President on erosion of reservation for SC/ST, particularly in promotion (5 Feb).
Education: *UP Deeni Talimi Council protests against introduction by State Government of Sanskrit as compulsory, of worship of Bharat Mata and of Vande Mataram in roll-call in primary schools (8 Feb).
*Karnataka decides to transfer 5 residential schools for Muslims from Q.M. Ibrahim's Trust to State Minorities Commission (12 Feb)
*SC stops ad-hob appointment of lecturers by universities (5 Feb).
*Dalai Lama visits AMU; asks Muslims to act as bridge of understanding between Islam and rest of humanity (3 Feb).
Wakfs: *Delhi wakf Board reclaims graveyard in east Delhi. Construction of boundary wall leads to clash of Hindu mob with police (3 Feb)
*Delhi High Court decides to proceed with DWB case against Imam and Naib Imam of Jama Masjid for unlawful construction and defalcation of income (7 Feb).
Cow-Slaughter: *VHP activist Rithambara supports candidates pledged to total ban on slaughter of cow and progeny (16 Feb). Singhal demands central legislation.
Commemoration: *21st death anniversary of late President Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed official observed in New Delhi (11 Feb).
Obituary: *Eminent Islamic scholar Syed Salman Nadvi passes away in Durban (8 Feb)
Muslim World: Pakistan: *P.M. Nawaz Sharif calls mistake refusal to hand over power to Mujibur Rahman in 1970; agrees to resolve issue of Pakistanis stranded in Bangladesh since 1971 (17 Jan).
Turkey: *Constitutional Court dissolves Erbakan's Islam-based Welfare Party for anti-secular activities (17 Jan)
Algeria: *E.U. Mission fails to secure Algerian consent to European intervention to stop massacres (27 Jan).
Iraq: *US prepares to attack Iraq; P.M. Gujral cautions US and other Permanent Members against military intervention in Iraq (21 Jan).
