NATIONAL AFFAIRS
Congress: *Sonia Gandhi elected as President, by 7448 votes to 94, in the first ever challenge to Nehru-Gandhi family, by a former member of inner coterie Jitendra Prasad (15 Nov).
NDA: *Vajpayee adds 4 Cabinet Ministers including another Demolition accused Uma Bharati and 1 MOS (7 Nov).
"Partners express unhappiness with political developments and consult each other for better equation with Vajpayee Government (20 Oct).
BJP: *Advani declares RSS-BJP ties as ideological and historical, compares RSS to Gandhi and JP.
*Drops R.P. Gupta, a Bania, and inducts Rajnath Singh, a Rajput, as CM of UP (24 Oct).
Trinamool Congress: *In bid to attract Muslim support, Mamata Banerjee supports reservation for Muslims in Public Employment and Second Official Language Status to Urdu in West Bengal; describes support to NDA as 'not forever (14 Nov).
JD(U): *Paswan distances himself from Advani's support to RSS (20 Oct).
Shiv Sena: *Demands BJP to drop its President Lakshman (12 Nov).
CPM: *Special Conference calls for unity of 'all Left, secular and democratic forces to defeat communalism' (22 Oct), ready to share power with others. Rejects CPI's call for Left unity.
*Jyoti Basu retires after 23 years as CM. Demands rejection of VHP's application for UN Observer status.
Other Parties: *SP condemns RSS call for Indianisation of Islam and Christianity and Advani's presence at RSS meet (17 Oct). Attacks BJP as communal.
RJD: Yadav and Muslim killings in Siwan shake Laloo Yadav's MY mantra (17 Oct).
New States: *NDA rejects JMM leader Shibu Soren's claim. *BJP candidate Marandi becomes CM of Jharkhand (15 Nov).
RSS: *Organises Rashtriya Rakshav Mahashivir at Agra.
** Chief Sudarshan calls for Hinduisation of Islam and Christianity, criticizes economic policies of Vajpayee Government; indicates preference for Advani as successor/ substitute for Vajpayee; announces a national mass contact drive to explain RSS ideology and views. *JUH demands Indianisation of RSS. AIMPLB proposes Islamisation of India.
*RSS's offensive denounced by secular forces, Muslims and Christian leaders, Left and Congress.
*BJP feels uncomfortable but endorses RSS line leaving it to minorities to decide (17 Oct)
VHP: Demands ban on cow slaughter. Demands ban on tting up Madarsas in Kutch.
Terrorism: *ULFA targets Bihari migrants in Assam (23 Oct).
Electoral Reform: *Delhi High Court asks Election Commission to provide information to voters about criminal record of candidates.
*C.E.C. wants mandatory party polls but rejects idea of Commission's interference in such elections (12 Nov).
Small States: *BJP President Lakshman supports small states for better administration (20 Oct).
*RSS organ demands fresh look at reorganization of States. #BJP rejects JD(S)'s plea for 2"d State Reorganization Commission. *UP Assembly says 'no' to further division of UP (24 Oct).
Reservation: SC admits petition against extension of reservation in legislatures for SC/ST:
Corruption: *5 top cricketers, including Azharuddin, suspended by Cricket Board following indictment by CBI (3 Nov).
Human Rights: *Law Commission proposes to curtail police's power to arrest and detain (6 Nov).
Constitutional Review: *BSP leader Kanshi Ram calls move anti-minorities.
*AIMPLB appoints 7-man Committee to monitor progress of review and intervene as and when necessary, to defend secular order and protect minority's interests (29 Oct).
Education: *UGC's review of promotion policy criticized by teachers.
Nuclear Disarmament: *National Convention on Nuclear Disarmament and Peace adopts Charter of Peace to support nuclear disarmament (12 Nov).
BABARI MASJID QUESTION
Title Suit: *Special Bench examines 174 witness of Sunni Wakf Board (14 Nov).
CBI Case: *Allahabad H.C. reserves order on revision filed by 33 out of 49 accused in demolition case.
*Following resignation of ministers from Gujarat, opposition demands resignation of key accused Advani,
Joshi and Uma Bharati (10 Nov). BJP rejects demand (13 Nov)
Liberhan Commission: *Uma Bharati deposes; denies involvement until 31 Oct., '92; evades question on BJP's role (23 Oct).
*H.C. directs Commission not to insist on Kalyan Singh's appearance (1 Nov).
RSS: *Asks Government 'to permit construction of Mandir' but gives no explicit support to VHP's move for starting construction in defiance of law. Advani remains silent in concluding session (17 Oct).
*AIMMM conveys concern to H.M. Advani on repeated announcement by VHP on Mandir construction (17 Oct) *VHP's Kendriya Margdarshak Mandal's Goa session fails to announce date for starting construction and leaves decision to Dharam Sansad meeting in Allahabad in January, 2001.
*AIMPLB reiterates stand and accuses VHP of contempt of court (30 Oct).
*BJP President Lakshman warns VHP of law taking its ourse (31 Oct). VHP criticizes BJP's stand.
*VHP mobilizes Karsevak for Shaurya Diwas in Ayodhya on 6 Dec., Agenda may include attempt to make token beginning (9 Nov).
*Shiv Sena accuses BJP of deceiving Hindus; rejects court's jurisdiction.
*Kalyan Singh accuses BJP/RSS of having misled him 14 Nov).
Reconstruction of Demolished Temple: Unlawfully constructed temple in Faridabad, demolished by the local authorities (17 Oct), ordered rebuilt on same ite by Haryana Government under pressure from VHP 24 Oct).
KASHMIR QUESTION
Insurgency: *Shia leader Aga Syed Mehdi, brother of a MOS in J&K, killed in land mine blast near Srinagar (3 Nov). No militant outfit claims responsibility.
Suicide attack on army camp by Lashkar-e-Taiyaba (5 Nov). *Government claims 1413 militants killed upto 11 Nov. against 316 security personal lost, figures for 1999 vere 898 and 260.
Al Burq dissociates from A.G. Lone's People's conference which holds a public Convention in Srinagar.
Atrocities: *Inquiry Committee headed by Gen. S.MAukherji holds CRPF responsible for killing of many marnath pilgrims on 1 August.
Pandian Commission holds Kashmir Police and CRPF esponsible for Patharbal and Barakpura killing.
*CM announces judicial inquiry in Chhattisinghpora massacre (31 Oct).
Political Developments: *N.C. GS asks India not to reat Kashmiris as slaves' and recongise Pakistan as ultimate party. *Farooq accuses Centre of following communal agenda in State (24 Oct).
G.M. Shah's ANC asks militants to stop violence for a negotiated settlement through tripartite talks.
Hurriyat Chief calls for realistic approach on (6 Nov). Throws hints for bilateral talks with GOl (7 Nov). Asks Pakistan to let Kashmiris decide (14 Nov).
Seeks observer status with UN.
Government: *India allows Umar Farooq and Ansari to fend OIC Conference in Doha; allows Lone to go to Pakistan to attend son's marriage with Amanullah Khan's laughter.
Home Minister Advani considers the Assembly's Resolution Autonomy as anti-people (20 Oct). Rejects pre-1953 status; sees progress towards normalization in Valley (24 Oct).
C.M. Farooq Abdullah proposes discussion on RSS's Jews in NDA.
Former Foreign Secretary Salman Haider proposes assumption of talks with Pakistan (15 Nov).
Furcation Move: *Advani rejects. RSS' trifurcation love (22 Oct). *Movement builds momentum in Jammu with open RSS support (3 Nov).
IC: *OIC Summit condemns human rights violation in proposal to send fact finding mission; asks India and Pakistan to resume bilateral negotiations (14 Nov). India rejects Resolution (15 Nov).
OTHER MATTERS OF CONCERN
Personal Law: *AIMPLB meets in Bangalore (28-29 Oct). Adopts Bangalore Declaration and several Resolution on Communal upsurge, Babari Masjid, Review of Constitution etc. but fails to adopt draft Standard Nikahnama or launch movement on social reform or discuss codification.
Jama Masjid: *Imam Ahmad Bukhari in his first Khutba criticizes BJP and Pakistan for creating problems for Muslim Indians (20 Oct)
*Russian Ambassador calls on Bukhari. Defers plan to form political party (9 Nov).
*Delhi H.C, asks police to file status report on sedition charges against ex-Imam and his son (9 Nov).
Education: *M/HRD Joshi releases National Framework for School Curriculum aimed at Hinduisation of education, specially of non-Hindu students.
Monuments: *ASI exempts Friday worshippers from entrance fee in Taj Mahal and Kotla Ferozeshal Complex (3 Nov)
*ASI begins renovation of Kabuli Bagh Masjid in Panipat and initiates legal action to remove encroachments (28 Oct).
*VHP adds Masjid Quwwatul Islam on Qutub Minar Complex to demolition list; announces plan to perform Dev Mukti Yagna on Masjid premises. Mushawarat protests, plan foiled by Delhi Police (15 Oct).
*Delhi H.C. questions Union on maintenance of Red Fort (18 Oct) and asks ASI to conduct survey around Begumpuri Masjid in Delhi (19 Oct).
*S.C. orders foundries to shift out of Taj zone in Agra (8 Nov)
Haj: *Haj Charter fare fixed at Rs.12,000; BJP President Laxman defends 'subsidy' (31 Oct).
Urdu: *NCPUL organizes 3-day meeting of 15 State Urdu Akademis in Jaipur. Meeting asks Urdu-speaking people to register their Mother Tongue correctly in Census 2001 (17 Oct). Organises first Urdu Kitab Mela in Delhi (4 Nov).
Muslim Organizations: *BJP demands ban on SIMI.
Wakf: *Market unlawfully constructed on Wakf land in Faridabad demolished on objection by Punjab Wakf Board (5 Nov).
Sectarian Violence: "Pre-planned Sunni-Shia clash in Mubarakpur (UP) (5 Nov): 15 killed; many injured. Town under long curfew: Muslim delegations not permitted; SP alleges conspiracy.
Police Atrocities: JUH condemns continued police atrocities in Mau, UP (18 Oct).
Communal Violence: *Clash over Qabristan near Hubli in Karnataka (12 Nov). Tension over Azan in Daudpur, UP.
Conversion: *VHP demands ban on conversion and foreign missionaries.
*Qrissa Bajrang Dal alleges mass conversion to Christianity; police to investigate (8 Nov).
Other Minorities: *Karnataka police charge sheets 31 for attacks on Churches including members of Deendar Anjuman in India and Pakistan.
*A.I. Christian Council denounces RSS as fascist (19 Oct)
*U.S. Council for International Religious Freedom rejects RSS call for Indianisation of Church as first step towards declaring India Hindu nation.
Other Muslim Minorities - Singapore: *Muslim community scuttles play TALAQ.
Philippines: *OIC's 22-member team led by Indonesia's F.M. probes status of Muslims in insurgency torn South (16 Oct).
Yugoslavia: *Kosovars who had boycotted Yugoslavia presidential elections vote massively in State elections; demand independence (28 Oct).
USA: *Muslim citizens of Egyptian origin pleads guilty in terrorist attack on US Embassies (21 Oct).
*Issues Eid stamp for the first time (14 Nov).
Russia: *Accuses Muslim Brotherhood of trying to penetrate Russia and break up Central Asian States with help of international terrorists (18 Oct).
Muslim Wold - Palestine: *Intifada continues. Israel plans reconquest' of vacated Arab territories (31 Oct).
OIC Summit condemns Israel but fails to take an effective stand on diplomatic and economic relation with Israel (11 Nov)
*Solidarity meet organized in Hyderabad (27 Oct).
AIMMM asks Indian Government not to equate Israel and Palestinians and support Palestinian cause. *Imam Jama Masjid holds demonstration. *JUH demands break of diplomatic relations with Israel (16 Oct). Holdsdemonstration (23 Oct)
*Cong(I) demands stronger stand. *Left Parties support cause.
*Arab Ambassadors make joint demarcation. F.M. reiterates India's support for Palestinian case but emphasizes peace process.
* Palestine Ambassador calls on BJP President and leaders of other major parties.
Iraq: *Indian MP's call for lifting sanctions ..
Pakistan: *MQM Leader Altaf Hussain widely criticized in Pakistan for his utterances against 'Pakistan ideology' (27 Oct). Government planning to charge him with high treason.
"Qadianis gunned down in Punjab while praying (30 Oct) Another mob attack on Qadianis condemned by Amnesty International (14 Nov).
Saudi Arabia: *Renew invitation to F.M. Jaswant Singh.
Egypt: Egyptian Ambassador calls on BJP President.
Commemoration: *112 birth anniversary of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad officially observed in Delhi (11 Nov).
*Maulana Abul Hasan Ali Nadvi honoured with first Shah Waliullah Award by Institute of Objectives Studies (3 Nov).
Obituary: *Noted Urdu writer Anwar Azeem, 76, passes away in Delhi. P.M. mourns death (20 Oct).
