NATIONAL POLITICS
SANGH PARIVAR: *BJP gives dismal show in UP Panchayat Polls; SP and BSP do much better (28 June).
*President Thakre pleads with VHP and Bajrang Dal for restraint (7 July).
*RSS Chief Sudarshan calls for scrapping Article 370 and construction of Ayodhya Mandir (7 July).
*BJP and RSS call halt to polemics on economic questions (11 July). *VHP applies for consultative status with UN-Economic and Social Council; Pakistan obstructs (14 July). *Shiv Sena defaces English signboards in Bombay (11 July).
*Kalyan Singh condemns Vajpayee and Advani as power-hungry (27 June).
*Samata's George Fernandes slams RSS for equating patriotism with reliigon (8 July). *TC trounces Left in Calcutta municipal election; provides Mayor with Congress support (28 June).
Congress: *Shares blame for raging caste violence in Bihar; PM pleads inability to dismiss Rabri Governmentfor lack of number (17 June). *Ahmed Patel resigns as Treasurer. *Maharashtra Government clears Thackeray's prosecution for incitment of riot in 1992 (15 July).
Janata Parivar: *BSP leader Mayawati calls SP's Mulayam Singh BJP's agent (5 July). Rules out truck with BJP (5 July). *VP Singh demands right to shelter as fundamental right. *Chandrashekhar plans nationwide movement on his own (26 June).
Government: *Saffronisation hints National Centre of Arts Performing (21 June). *Defence Minister proposes compulsory military training for all youth (1 July).
*Union and States agree to enact TADA II (28 June), NHRC opposes strongly (12 July).
Human Rights: *NHRC urges ratification of UN. Convention on Torture (25 June), directs UP police to pay compensation for 'harassment' (16 June); assues notice to UP for report on Bajrang Dal's threat to eust Christians' (23 June). *Punjab HRC orders probe in police forcing a Sarpanch to drink urine (8 July).
Terrorism: *G-8 backs India on UN action against global terrorism (14 July).
Small States: *Kisan leader Tikait demands bifurcation of UP (1 July). *Lok Dal leader Ajr Singh campaigns for Harit Pradesh in West UP (24 June) Indo-Israel
Relations: *India consolidates ties with Israel. Home Minister Advani, Foreign Minister Jaswant Singh and W. Bengal CM Basu visit Israel in quiet succession. Cooperation mooted also in areas of international security, trans-border terrorism and nuclear research. Both call on Arafat. Arab countries discreetly critical. Congress blasts Jaswant Singh for relating diplomatic relations to Muslim 'block vote'
Indo-Pakistan Relations: *Congress demands White Paper on ISI activities (3 July)
*Advani and Naidu confirm involvement of members of an obscure sect 'Deendar' based in Hyderabad in bomb attacks on Churches in Karnataka, AP and Goa.
BABARI MASJID QUESTION
BMM: *BMMCC and AIBMAC agree in principle to merge themselves to form a unified movement (3 July).
Sangh Parivar: *RSS Chief Sudarshan proposes solution by legislation or pressure on Muslims to relinquish claim; BJP supports (8 July).
*VHP announces plan for Jaipur-Ayodhya Rath Yatra (16 June). BMMCC asks CM Rajasthan to stop Rath. Samata Party and some other NDA constituents raise objection.
*VHP sets up more workshops for carving stones to meet deadline of January, 2001. Announces finalisation of date by Dharam Sansad in January, 2001.
*Bajrang Dal organises military training camps in Ayodhya, the 5" such camp in UP, to meet ISI (read Muslim) threat (25 June).
Liberhan Commission: *Summons ex-CM Kalyan Singh on 20 July (21 June). Kalyan Singh blames RSS. VHP, Vajpayee, Advani and Joshi of conspiracy to destroy Babari Masjid. *Examines Cabinet Secretary Prabhat Kumar denies intelligence input but affirms seeking CM's order for deployment of central forces camping near Ayodhya (21 June).
Administration of Site: *High level meeting held in MHA to discuss custodian's proposal to release acquired temples and facilitate Darshan and Pooja (30 June).
KASHMIR QUESTION
Autonomy: *J&K Assembly passes Resolution to demand restoration of pre-1953 status within the Indian Union, as recommended by the State Autonomy Committee (26 June). NC leadership proposes debate (26 June). Union Cabinet rejects Resolution in toto under RSS pressure (4 July).
PM's Visit: PM and HM visits Srinagar to condole Begum Akhtar Jahan's death. Throw life line to Farooq Abdullah by inviting him for talks on Devolution (11 July). NC decides not to withdraw from NDA (11 July).
"Wave of anger and frustration in Valley (4 July). Farooq Abduflah initiates negotiation in Delhi (15 July).
*RSS Working Committee opposes autonomy (2 July) Presses government to adopt hard-line without delay (3 July).
*BJP rejects restoration and autonomy; opts for devolution as for other States; identifies autonomy with separation and secession, 'second partition' and Balkanisation (23 June). Ridicules and abuses Farooq Abdullah (3 July) Expresses satisfaction with rejection (4 July). Subsequently softens stand on NC and Farooq Abdullah (12 July).
*APHC downplays autonomy resolution calls autonomy non-issue and no solution. Relieved at rejection; doubts Union's Bonafide’s in offer of talks.
Other Parties: *Congress wants NDA to clarify stand (30 June). Alongwith Left, criticises Government for mishandling issue. Supports 1975 Accord (13 July).
CPM wants consultation with all parties (5 July).
*Tohra demands autonomy for Punjab (27 June).
*Assam CM support autonomy move.
*Ex-PM's join against autonomy move (29 June). V.P. Singh calls for dialogue (5 July).
*AIMMM supports autonomy (3 July).
Trifurcation: *RSS proposes trifurcation (28 June).
*Ladakh Buddhists and Jammu Hindus reject autonomy and demand integration with Union as UT and State respectively. *Pandits oppose autonomy (25 June).
Hurriyat: *Geelani expresses readiness for talks (19 June). Calls freedom struggle 'obligatory Jihad' (23 June). *Lone considers Kashmir Study Council a formula possible solution (22 June).
Human Rights: Violence in Srinagar over student's killing in 'fake encounter' (23 June).
Insurgency: *Militants target State Secretariat (28 June). Hizbul Mujahideen calls rejection slap on Farooq's face.
Foreign Reaction - UK: Training of British Muslim militants for Kashmir reported (29 June).
Pakistan: *POK Assembly calls autonomy resolution a conspiracy (29 June). *Foreign Minister Sattar accuses India of silencing Kashmir leadership by barring Hurriyat from attending OIC (29 June).
OIC: Foreign Ministers reiterate support for self- determination under UN Resolution.
OTHER MATTERS OF CONCERN
Census 2001: *Shahabuddin calls upon Muslim youth to keep vigil on enumeration in February, 20001 (18 June).
UP Religious Buildings Bill: *JUH, AIMPLB, AIMMM reiterate stand. However, agitation cools down in wake of press report about bill put in cold storage *Numerous incidents of highhanded administration obstruction to repair and construction of Masjids in UP reported. *Masjid attacked in Guntur [AP] (25 June), attack criticised by Muslim organisations (27 June).
State Violence: *Police action in Jamuna Pushta, Delhi for detecting Bangladeshi immigrants; 1 killed in police firing; Masjid desecrated, Muslim organisations condemn police action (25 June).
Communal Riots: *Dube Commission holds DM and SP responsible for Ayodhya-related Bhopal Riots in 1992 (3 July). *Communal violence in Malpura town and village Tordi in Tonk (Rajasthan), tolls 12 lives, curfew imposed. Sonia Gandhi and CM Gehlot visit July)
Anti-Christian Violence - Sangh Parivar: *Violence continues with vandalization of graveyard (23 June), attack on Church (26 June), invasion of school (3 July), bomb blast in Hubli (8 July), killing of priest (13 July).
Members of obscure Deendar sect arrested in Bangalore and Hyderabad (12 July). Deendar Anjuman denies involvement (15 July). *RSS accuses Chrrstian leaders of nursing persecution complex (20 June). VHP seeks CBI inquiry (27 June). RSS denies involvement and claims planned conspiracy against Hindus (2 July). A.I. Christian Council accuses RSS of hate campaign exploding into violence (16 June). *PM calls for probe (24 June).
Meets Pope in Rome and assures him of safety of Christians (25 June).
Slum Clearance: *Muslim dominated slums in Delhi and Maharashtra targetted in the name of Slum Clearance.
JUH condemns operation in Jalgaon (26 June).
JMI: *Administrative inquiry justifies police action, finds excessive use of force (13 July).
*Students restive because of non-withdrawal of police cases as promised. Shahabuddin reminds VC (27 June).
AMU: *VC Ansari takes several steps to restore residential character and academic level (21 June).
Education: *JUH organises National Conference on Contemporary Education in Islamic Perspective. S. Hamid, A.M. Khusro and others participate (2 July).
*AMU, JMI and Hamdard Education Society jointly organise 2-day Seminar on Information Technology to sensitise Muslims (27-28 June).
*UGC publishes list of fake universities (20 May).
Urdu: *Assam adds Manipuri as medium of instruction in 3 districts (18 June).
Personal Law: *AIMPLB criticizes Calcutta High Court judgement on extension of Iddat till remarriage of divorce (16 June) and Bombay HC's full Bench Judgement for sanctioning payment of 'provision' in instalments beyond Iddat (12 July). Decides to challenge verdict (14 July).
*Centre leaves compulsory registration of remarriage to States (27 June).
Conversion: *VHP repeats call for law to ban conversion (but not reconversion) (18 June). *Tribes in South Bihar refuses Hindu tag (20 June). *Reconverted Muslim family alleges fraud deception (6 July).
Infiltration: *Delhi Police continues to harass Bengalis; brands some as Bangladeshis; detains them for deportation. W. Bengal Government protests (30 June).
*Delhi HC rules ration card or voter's IC not adequate to claim citizenship (15 July).
*CM Mahanta defends 'quit India' notices to Bengali-speaking persons found to be foreign nationals by Tribunals (22 June).
Muslim Organisations: *A.I. Muslim Majlis-e-Mushawarat elects Shahabuddin as President for 2000- 2003, alongwith 9 other office-bearers (18 June).
Subsequently AIMIM joins the Mushawarat (3 July).
*JUH Working Committee meets (3 July).
*AIMTM organises Seminar in Hyderabad on Problems of Muslims in Foreign Countries (16-18 June).
*A dissident group forms parallel Mushawarat on 17 June and elects Salim Qasmi as President, without disclosing names of members of Markazi Majlis-e-Amla.
Monuments: *ASI clarifies Sikri excavation site as being distinct from Akbar's Sikri.
*Supreme Court summarily rejects petition questioning credit for Taj Mahal (13 July).
Other Muslim Minorities: *Germany permits teaching of Islam in schools.
Muslim World - Afghanistan: *Pakistan asks Taliban regime to hand over Osama bin Laden to USA (21 May).
Libya: *Supports India's Permanent membership of UN Security Council (7 June).
Iran: *President Khatmi visits China (24 June). Also visits Germany, speaks of inter-civilisational dialogue.
Saudi Arabia: *Deports 5 Bengali children taken to Mecca for begging (22 June).
Pakistan: *Mohajir leader Altaf Quraishi calls Two Nation Theory an 'act of deception' (22 June).
*CE Musharraf rationalises Jihad against India (25 June).
Commemoration: *Darul Uloom, Deoband Old Boys Association organises Seminar on Life and Work of Qasim Nanautvi (27 May).
Obituary: Danial Latifi, Senior Advocate, Supreme Court, 83, passes away in Delhi. (17 June).
