NATIONAL POLITICS
*Congress urges BJP allies to withdraw support and work for alternative government to save country from chaos and mismanagement (6 June). But decides not to take initiative to form national front of all secular parties to force down Vajpayee government.
BJP President Thakre rules out mid-term poll (16 May)
AIADMK Minister Kumar resigns from government to signal Jayalalitha's displeasure (22 May). Accuses BJP of secret deal with DMK, presses for immediate dismissal of DMK Government.
TDP reiterates issue-based support to Vajpayee Government (27 May).
*Trinamul Congress suspends support to Vajpayee Government (28 May) and later lifts it.
Samata Party in Bihar attacks national leadership for delaying dismissal of State Government.
Parliamentary and Assembly Bye-elections: do not show any increase in base support to BJP, despite initial euphoria on nuclear test (6 June)
Nuclear Test: *India dismisses Chinese allegation of hegemonic design (16 May). Offers dialogue to China as well to other neighbours and to adhere selectively to CTBT.
*Changing its line Congress questions timing and need for test, sees political motive in anticipation of mid-term poll (16 May). *Shahabuddin criticises nuclear tests as erosion of moral leadership for de-nuclearisation.
*Pakistan carries out nuclear tests to even account with India (18 May). *Pakistan accuses India of nuclear blackmail on Kashmir (23 May).
*PM Vajpayee reiterates India's commitment to complete and universal disarmament and offers no-first use agreement to Pakistan (27 May) and expresses readiness to probe No-war pact with Pakistan (29 May).
*Government announces moratorium (21 May). Former PM Gujral asks Vajpayee to advise Ministers to exercise moderation in public statements.
*PM reiterates offer of bilateral talks with Pakistan including Kashmir (4 June). *Pakistan makes counter-offer for resumption of suspended Secretary level talks.
*In Parliament, Government fails to develop national consensus on weaponisation (27 May).
*UN Security Council Permanent Members meeting in Geneva express alarm rising tension in South Asia, effectively internationalise Kashmir issue.
*US rules out amendments in the NPT and CTBT to recognise India and Pakistan as nuclear weapons states. China accuses India of targeting it (3 June).
*India rejects outside involvement any dialogue with Pakistan (5 June).
*UN Security Council asks India and Pakistan to halt weaponisation (6 June). India rejects UN Resolution as being outside its jurisdiction.
Sangh Parivar: *Intensifies its role as 'moral authority'.
*St Mary's School in Ahmedabad attacked because Sanskrit is not taught (29 May). *Miss Saurashtra Contest attacked as 'vulgar imitation of American culture' (31 May). Truck-loads of Pepsi Cola, Coco Cola damaged first in Ahmedabad (21 May) and near Surat to demand, total ban on their sale (29 May). *Sets fire to American Ice cream Parlour in Ahmedabad (25 May). *Gujarat Chief Minister Patil describes violence as inspired by Swadeshi movement.
*BJP President Thakre justifies RSS/Shiv Sena attack on MF Hussain for derogatory paintings (16 May) Painters and academics submit memorandum to President Narayanan expressing concern and urging intervention against cultural regimentation and censorship (21 May).
*M.F. Husain apologies for hurting Hindu sentiments.
Situation in Bihar: *Bihar Governor SS Bhandari apprises Home Minister Advani of 'gravi' law and order situation Bihar. RJD leader Laloo Yadav criticises Governor nor his adverse remarks.
*Central Government resists pressure from Samata Party to place Bihar under President's Rule.
*BJP sponsored bandh in Patna is total.
*Congress also launches stir against State Government (21 May). *Several JD MLA's including former spokesman join RJD (5 June)
Criminalisation of politics: *Eminent Jurist Ram Jethmalani, now Union Minister, favours voluntary resignation of 'charge-sheeted Ministers' but leaves Advani, Joshi and Uma Bharati to their conscience.
Electoral Reform: All parties meeting agrees in principle to several proposals including state funding of elections, lowering age limit of candidates and deferring delimitation of constituencies (22 May).
Terrorism: Bomb blasts by BODO militants snap rail and road links with Assam.
BABARI MASJID QUESTION:
Criminal Case: *Allahabad High Court reserves Order on review petition by defendants. Special Judge defers hearing to frame charges to August.
Clandestine Construction: *Newspapers reports stone-carving for Ram Temple in Rajasthan and Ayodhya on war-footing. (16 May)
*BMMCC Convener Shahabuddin demands ban on transportation of pillars and stones, impounding of stones already in Ayodhya, demolition of concrete platform illegally constructed in 1992 and prosecution of VHP for incitment and contempt of judiciary. Appeals to political parties to expose Sangh Parivar conspiracy (8 June).
*Congress strongly criticises Sangh Parivar for clandestine activity (25 May). Government denies any construction at the disputed site. VHP Working President Singhal confirms stone carving programme (7 June).
Congress President Sonia Gandhi writes to PM. In reply, PM reiterates commitment to judicial process and constitutional mandate (7 June).
*The Question raised in Rajya Sabha (3 June). Home Minister Advani admits stone carving in Ayodhya but denies construction on disputed site. PM calls upon Sangh Parivar to change outlook and adopt balanced approach. Advani meets Singhal to advise restraint.
VHP brushes off advice and demands early and favourable judicial verdict. *Congress demands endorsement of PM's commitment by RSS and BJP (11 June) *BJP President Thakre calls on VHP to defer construction until Supreme Court verdict.
*BJP Vice-President K.L. Sharma commits BJP to legislation in case of adverse verdict to nullify it in order to facilitate construction of temple on Babari masjid site.(15 June).
*Left parties express concern; raise issue in Parliament. Team confirms construction activity and pre-fabrication of pillars in Ayodhya (14 June).
*JD leader and ex-PM Deve Gowda wants PM to warn VHP of its evil designs. .
KASHMIR SITUATION
Insurgency: *Valley shows signs of normalisation with focus on militancy shifting to Doda and Poonch districts of Jammu region.
Political Development: *Hurriyat leader A.G. Lone released after 6 months of imprisonment on medical grounds (27 May). *On eve of informal meeting of Permanent Members of Security Council in Geneva. Hurriyat calls for general strike which paralyses normal life (4 June). *Muslim Conference leader S.S. Gilani resigns from Hurriyat (14 June).
National Conference: Reiterates support to BJP-led Government. Wins Parliamentary seat of Ladakh.
*Saifuddin Soz, ex-Minister re-affirms faith in leadership of Farooq Abdullah
International Development: *Nuclear tests by India and Pakistan revive international interest in and pressure for solution of Kashmir dispute through bilateral discussions but internationally monitored.
*India rejects mediation by UN or any third party.
OTHER MATTERS OF CONCERN
Reservation for Women in Legislative Bodies:
*Government assures women organisations of introduction of relevant constitutional amendment during Budget Session (27 May).
*Committee for Empowerment of Muslim Women organises Seminar to demand separate proportionate quota for Muslim women in order to protect level of Muslim representation in legislative bodies (31 May).
*Republican Party of India proposes comprehensive legislation on implementation of reservation policy (24 May).
Communal Riots: Minorities Commission urges ex-gratia payment to victims of communal riots on par with victims of Anti-Sikh riots 1984.
Liberhan Commission: further examines Mulayam Singh Yadav and former Home Secretary Godbole (13 June).
Communal Violence: Normalcy restored in Moradabad (17 May). Minorities Commission urges immediate payment of suitable compensation to victims.
*Communal violence ignited in Hyderabad by defamatory literature against which Police fails to take action. 1,000 Muslims including MLAs. Congress demands CBI inquiry (10 June). *Home Minister makes statement in Parliament on situation in Hyderabad (17 June).
*Tamil Nadu decides to make ex-gratia payment of Rs 200,000 to the next-of-kin of victims of communal violence.
TADA: *IUML demands release of all TADA detainees. Banatwala introduces Private Bill to stop all proceedings under TADA.
Urdu: *Former PM Gujral wants Urdu speaking people to change their mentality and strive for modern education. *Maulana Azad National Urdu University forms Advisory Committee and plans for campus teaching at graduate level and distance education programmes in 1998-99.
Education: *Government reconstitutes Indian Council for Historical Research with pro-RSS historians.
*Maulana Azad Educational Foundation decides to institute international award in name of Maulana Azad (20 May).
AMU: *AMU Students Union and Teacher's Association protest against article linking Sir Syed Ahmed Khan with Freemasonry (19 May)
Wakf: *Delhi Wakf Board demands restoration of 123 wakf properties, identified by Burney Committee, by the Government (5 June).
*Reconstitued Council meets. Welfare Minister Maneka Gandhi asks all States to notify 1995 Wakf Act.
Shia-Sunni Relations: *Muharram procession taken out peacefully in Lucknow under tripartite agreement. CM Kalyan Singh claims credit.
Human Rights: *National Human Rights Commission appoints an advisory committee under by former Chief Justice AM Ahmadi to recommend amendments in Act to make it more effective.
*NHRC finds Bombay police guilty of killing Javed Fawda in Bombay in cold blood in a fake encounter.
Census: *Home Minister Advani rules out caste based census (14 June).
Linguistic Minorities: Mithila Sabha, Bombay demands establishment of Mithilanchal State in Bihar.
Other Minorities: *Christians converges at Wagha to protest against Pakistan's anti-blasphemy laws and demand physical security of religious minorities in Pakistan.
Muslim Organisations: .All India Milli Council denounces BJP-led Government for implementing secret agenda of RSS on Babari Masjid-issue. AIMMM: Shaharanpur Court dismisses criminal case against AIMMM leaders and office bearers including Maulana Hasan Ali Nadvi.
Islamic World: International Seminar on Palestine held in New Delhi demands vacation of occupied territories and establishment of state of Palestine.
Obituary: *Hakim Habibuilah, Chairman, Legislative Council, Jammu & Kashmir, 70 passes away on 30 May.
*Dr. Ziaul Hoda former Ameer of JMI, Bihar passes away in Patna (12 June).
