NATIONAL POLITICS
Presidency: *In his interview (14 Aug) and in his speech to mark the end of celebration of golden jubilee of Independence, President Narayanan articulates Nehruvian dream of Democracy, Secularism and Development and expresses concern at fall of Parliamentary standards, rise of corruption, educational and economic backwardness of SC/ST and criticises communal mobilisation (15 Aug).
*Seeks Opinion of Supreme Court on modalities for appointment of judges (27 July).
Independence Day: *PM Vajpayee unfurls national flag at Red Fort, reiterates commitment to secularism, expresses resolve to root out corruption and cross-border terrorism, offers dialogue to Pakistan, rejects pressure to sign CTBT in its present form (15 Aug).
*ULFA and other insurgent organisations in Assam and NE and Hurriyat in J&K boycott celebrations (15 Aug).
*Sardar Patel's statue unveiled in Parliament (14 Aug).
Coalition Politics: *AIADMK leader Jayalalitha plays cate and mouse with Vajpayee government; objects to Cauvery waters settlement; demands reinstatement of Director of Enforcement, ostensibly transferred under her pressure. AIADMK threatens to withdraw support.
*H.M. Advani rules out dismissal of Joshi Govt. in Maharashtra for non-acceptance of and inaction on Srikrishna Commission Report on Bombay Massacres, 1992-93 (9 Aug).
*TC Leader Mamata Banerjee demands President's Rule in W. Bengal (21 July).
*Samata Party demands dismissal of Bihar Government.
*Akali Dal demands exclusion of Udham Singh Nagar Distt. from proposed Uttaranchal (6 Aug).
Small States: *Advani rules out creation of more small states. *Jharkhand parties form Ekta Manch to reiterate traditional Jharkhand concept (9 Aug).
Sangh Parivar: *RSS Chief meets PM Vajpayee to discuss state of nation (21 July). Holds conclave with BJP MP's to discipline them (22-23 July). *RSS chief addresses to top bureaucrats of UP at Lucknow raises storm (26 July).
*RSS tries to resolve intra-BJP difference in UP to salvage party and government image (12 Aug).
Government: *Faces parliamentary criticism for failure to check price rise, to control law and order and protect women (28 July).
Congress: *Congress leadership intensifies criticism of Vajpayee Government but withstand pressure to topple it. Sonia Gandhi affirms Congress capacity for effective governance (28 July), agrees to step in, after BJP-led government collapse (11 Aug) does not see time as ripe (13 Aug).
*Sonia Gandhi-Pawar tussle continues (13 July).
*Abrar Ahmad, ex MOS, resigns from BJP and rejoins Congress. Aslam Sher Khan still in BJP criticises its attitude towards minorities.
Janata Parivar: * Laloo Pd. Yadav's RJD and Mulayam Singh Yadav's Samajwadi Party form Rashtriya Loktantrik Morcha to project latter as PM. Holds rallies at Patna and Lucknow.
Left Parties: *Kerala LDF Convener urges PM to protect interests of minorities (26 July). Draft Resolution for CPI(M) party Congress sees erosion of secular order and focuses on religious minorities. Kerala CM Nayanar finds minorities unsafe under BJP rule (10 Aug).
*Left Parties, particularly CPM, urge Congress to take initiative and lead to replace Vajpayee government and commit support from outside; Willing to back secular alternative (12 Aug).
Srikrishna Report on Bombay Massacres: *Tabled in Maharashtra Assembly (6 Aug). Severely indicts Shiv Sena and its Chief Bal Thackeray as well as Bombay police. Also criticises then CM Naik for inaction. Joshi Government rejects report as "anti-Hindu". Opposition parties demands its resignation.
*Congress promises to implement Report, if elected to power (9 Aug). Congress sets up panel tostudy report (11 Aug).
*SP convened meeting of all secular parties to devise common line of action (11 Aug).
*Advani rules out dismissal of State Government (9 Aug)
*Shahabuddin demands intervention of Central Government and deregistration of Shiv Sena by Election Commission (8 Aug). Milli Council forms Legal Committee to enforce Report. AIMMM asks for implementation (11 Aug).
*Public interest petition filed in Bombay for directive to State Government (13 Aug).
Infiltration: *Maharashtra Government's move to deport "Bangladeshi infiltrators" obstructed by West Bengal Government and stayed by Calcutta High Court (24 July).
*CPI(M) alleges deportees are Bengali-speaking Indian citizens. Mamata Banerjee, BJP ally, also criticises deportation. Uproar in Parliament. H.M. Advani defends Maharashtra's action (27-28 July). Informs Rajya Sabha of plan to hold meeting of CM's and Chief Secretaries (29 July)
*Government introduces bill to reinforce Foreigner's Act.
*Advani proposes to introduce National Identity Card (23 July)
Reservation for Women in Legislature: * SP President Mulayam Singh Yadav criticises move as conspiracy by higher castes against OBCsand Muslims (19 July). National Commission of Women accuses Laloo and Mulayam of deliberate obstruction (20 July)
*BJP agrees to consider reservation for OBC's after Women's Bill is passed but rules out reservation for Muslim women (7 Aug).
*AP Congress demands due share for minorities and.
Ban on Godse Play: *Congress condemns Joshi Government for permission to stage play which glorifies Godse and denigrates Mahatma. Demands ban (16 July). State Government bans play (18 July). Ban criticised by eminent theatre personalities as curb on freedom.
Corruption - LOC Case: *CBI files chargesheet in the Assam LOC Scandal against 58 persons including a former Minister and son of former CM.
Terrorism: *Action Taken Memorandum on Jain Report. Government decides further probe in role of Karunanidhi (later deleted), Chandraswami and Subramaniam Swamy (31 July).
State Terrorism: *Confidential Report by Special Judge on encounter killings of 135 persons by Bombay Police submitted to H.C. (17 July).
Foreign Contribution: *Advani warns organisations against violating FCRA (21 July).
Nuclear Tests: *Pakistan rejects India's offer of "No-First Use" pact (18 July) Says no to CTBT (23 July).
*ASEAN expresses concern at nuclear tests in South Asia and demands unconditional acceptance of NPT and CTBT by India and Pakistan (27 July). *Japan offers to mediate (27 July). *World leaders call for elimination of nuclear weapons on Hiroshima Day (5 Aug).
Indo-Pakistan Talks:
*India and Pakistan PM's agree to resume talks at Foreign Secretaries level (19 July). Preliminary discussions on modalities fail. India rejects Pakistan's "Non-paper" on confidence building measure (21 July).
BABARI MASJID QUESTION
Government: *Special CBI Court defers hearing of criminal cases to 4 September (10 Aug)
*H.M. Advani sees no illegality in stone-carving in Ayodhya; reiterates commitment to maintain status quo in disputed area in accordance with Supreme Court ruling on 24.10.1994 (21 July).
*MOS for Information & Broadcasting Naqvi favours construction of Mandir on Babari Masjid site "under any circumstances" (13 Aug).
Ram Janambhoomi Movement: *VHP leader Ashok Singhal affirms continuance of stone work for temple in Ayodhya (17 July).
*VHP G.S. Kishor slates construction to begin in November 2001, "irrespective of judicial decision" (15 July). *Kishor commits VHP to mobilise Hindu opinion for legislation to facilitate construction on Babari Masjid site, in case of unfavourable judicial verdict (22 July). *Mandir architect Sompura estimates 10 years for construction.
*Shankaracharya of Kashipeeth threatens to begin construction on 1.10.1998 with 4 lakh volunteers(22 July).
Gyanvapi Masjid: *50 Shiv Sena volunteers detained for violating ban on Jalabhishek in Varanasi (4 Aug).
KASHMIR QUESTION
Insurgency: *Insurgents massacre family of a former militant in Doda (25 July). Massacre 16 Hindus in Doda (28 July); 20 members of 3 Muslim families massacred in Village Sailan in Poonch (4 Aug). 5 Hindus killed in Udhampura (4 Aug).
*Firing across the LOC intermittently continues.
*VHP gives 6 months to H.M. Advani to defuse J&K scene (7 Aug).
*J&K Police kills Ali Md. Dar, leader of Hizbul Mujahideen (9 Aug). Hurriyat calls protest strike (11 Aug).
Hurriyat: *Demands inquiry in Champnavi massacre Condemns Doda killings (28 July).
*Hurriyat not peimitted to hold public meeting in Srinagar; leaders detained (18 July). *Reiterates demand for tripartite talks (25 July). Calls general strike on eve of India-Pakistan talks in Colombo (29 July).
*Shabbir Shah, JKDF leader, arrested in Badgam for violating ban on public meeting (22 July).
Government: *Ban on JKLF for 2 years confirmed (14 Aug). *Advani reiterates resolve to crush proxy war (29 July). *Gohar Ayub warns of war on Kashmir (3 Aug).
*Defence Minister Fernandes promises to reclaim PoK (9 Aug)
Pakistan: *Pakistan asks UNSG to appoint Special Representative to strengthen UNMOGIP, blames India for cross-border firings (7 Aug). *Pakistan new F.M. Sartaj Aziz gives highest priority to Kashmir and wants serious talks with India (8 Aug). *Pakistan reiterates peace and stability and South Asia with solution of Kashmir dispute.
*On Pakistan Day, PM Sharif reiterates support to Kashmiris' right to self-determination.
OTHER MATTERS OF CONCERN
Gujarat Situation: *BJP State Government reverses decision to convert Gujarat Minorities Board to Finance and Development Corporation (16 July). *Muslim community driven out of village Randhinkapur in Dasada, Gujarat, by VHP activists, following elopement of 2 Hindu women with Muslim men (28 July). Congress fact-finding team led by Shiv Shankar condemns harassment and intimidation of minorities. Opposition condemns attack on minorities in Rajya Sabha (31 July) and Lok Sabha (6 Aug). *DGP, Gujarat links rising crime graph to VHP; CM questions views. Gujarat Government forms police cell to monitor inter-religious marriage (7 Aug). Muslims return home but insecurity continues (13 Aug).
*Muslim organisations - MJUH, AIMC condemn Gujarat Government. Shahabuddin writes to Advani.
*Minorities Cornmission sends inquiry team.
Personal Law: *S.C. upholds right of Hindu widows to maintenance and in husband's property (16 July).
*Delhi Government bars persons with more than 2 children from municipal contests (5 Aug)
*Muslim Intellectuals Forum organises debate in Mumbai; proposes reform of Muslim society and education to combat Hindu fundamentalism (16 July).
Azaan Issue: *Calcutta H.C. charges 8 Imams of Calcutta with contempt (17 July). SC stays proceedings (30 July). Case adjourned (5 Aug).
Communal Violence: *According to H.M. Advani 38 communal riots occurred in May and June, 1998 with 38 death. *Ex-Mayor accused of circulating offensive leaftlet surrenders in Hyderabad.
Education: *Muslim schools in Kerala refuse mass recitation of Vande Mataram on 15 August. Government clarifies recitation not mandatory (15 Aug)
*A.I. Milli Council condemns educational policy of UP.
*Hyderabad Convention on Educational Rights of Minorities oppose dilution of Article 30.
*Muslim students secure 7 position among top 15 in B.A. Hons. Examination of Bombay University.
Urdu: * Hyderabad Seminar asks Azad Urdu University to facilitate affiliation of Urdu-medium institutions (28 July).
Linguistic Minorities: *Commissioner for Linguistic Minorities Deol alleges parliamentary and government apathy; last 14 annual reports not tabled (18 July)
Hindu Chauvinism: *Hindu Mahasabha objects to offering of water to Shivalingam in Rampur by MOS Naqvi (4 Aug). *Hindu Munnani, under official pressure, agrees to change route of Vinayak procession (11 Aug).
Human Rights: *UN Conference approves establishment of International Court of Criminal Justice. India abstains (19 July). *4 Muslim youth killed by police in false encounter near Muzaffarnagar, UP (25 July). Shahabuddin asks NHRC for investigation. Ajit Singh, BKMP leader also takes up prosecution of culprits and payment of compensation with NHRC
*Justice Kuldp Singh (Retd.) establishes People's Human Rights Commission to probe atrocities in Punjab. Move criticised by media.
Vande Matram: ** AIMPLB demands withdrawal of introduction of Vande Mataram on telephone system (11 Aug)
Wakfs: *A.I. Imams Organisation holds Conference in Bhopal, demands implementation of SC decision on emoluments of Imams and Muezzins (19 July).
Muslim Organisations: *Jamaat Ahl-e-Hadith elects Maulana Safi Mubarakpuri as Amir (18 July).
*Petition by private complainant against Mushawarat dismissed by Dt. Judge, Saharanpur (10 July).
Other Minorities - Christian: *Bajrang Dal attacks Christian schools in Rajkot and burns Bible (18 July). Central Government takes serious view.
*VHP activists dip up body from Christian Cemetery and dump it outside local Church in Kheda (25 July). Christians, led by Churchum protest all over country.
Religious Minorities in Other States: *Russia assures VHP of freedom to Hindus to practice religion (26 July)
Muslim World -Afghanistan: *UN Security Council calls for cease-fire and end to foreign intervention (7 Aug). Taliban capture Mazar-i-Sharif; dislodge President Rabbani and Gen. dostum (8 Aug).
Commemoration: *363th Urs of Sheikh Abdul Haq Mohaddis Dehlvi celebrated (18 July).
*200in anniversary of Rampur Raza Library celebrated with International Seminar and Mushaira (25-28 July).
Obituary: *Eminent Pakistani economist Mahbubul Haq, 64, dies in New York (17 July).
*Eminent scholar Syed Noorullah Quadri, 81, dies in Kurnool (23 July).
*Vocalist Shamshad Begum dies in Mumbai (7 Aug).