CHRONOLOGY
Chronology of the Month
(16 January, 1996 - 15 February, 1997)
NATIONAL POLITICS
Congress Relationship with UF: Throughout the period, Congress attitude towards the United Front shows signs of tension. Congress rejects PM Deve Gowda's suggestion for Coordination Committee to discuss budget, accusing him of undermining President Kesri's authority, of working for his defeat in CPP leadership contest, of by passing him in negotiating possible coalition with Congress direct with Sharad Pawar, Rajesh Pilot (16 Jan), makes an issue of police surveillance on Congress headquarters (17 Jan), demands submission of secret documents to Jain Commission of Inquiry and its extension (22 Jan). PM does not appear at Kesri's Iftar (23 Jan) Kesri is absent from PM's Iftar (25 Jan). CPP flays UF Government's economic performance (24 Jan). Congress moots Congress Government with UF support or coalition Government under Congress PM (24 Jan). Antony and Pawarreject Congress joining UF Government.
* Moopanar rejects proposal of rejoining Congress and leading Congress Government and asks Congress to join UE Government (27 Jan). Congress rejects Moopanar's proposal (27 Jan). Moopanar invites both Congress and CPI(M) to join UF Government (30 Jan).
* PM's 'non-interference' in CBI probe against Kesri on assets further complicates situation (3 Feb).
* Congress plans charge-sheet against UF Government on question of secularism (6 Feb). UF plays down Congress assault, following Congress electoral debacle in Punjab Assembly and Lok Sabha by-elections (8 Feb) but CWC finally puts UF Government on notice by redefining support as 'issue-based' but authorising Kesri to take critical decision (16 Feb).
Congress: Debacle in Punjab and defeat of Buta Singh and Kamalnath and Moopanar's refusal to align with Congress, non-agreement with Samajwadi on forming Government in UP and resurgence of factionalism within Congress place Kesri in a no-win situation. He can neither affords to bring down UF Government nor compel UF to have a coalition under a Congress P.M. Rao group also intensifies criticism.
* Kesri maintains silence on Muslim demands while arch-rival J.N. Mishra harps on minorities’ problem. Congress fails to attract Muslim support in Bombay (29 Jan).
United Front Government: UF establishes a Secretariat, reorganises its Steering Committee and announces 10 member Standing Committee which does not include Laloo Pd. Yadav (9 Feb). UF's rout in Punjab election and bye-elections in Karnataka (including seat earlier held by the PM) is seen as danger signal (14 Feb).
JD: Laloo Prasad Government in Bihar, facing CBI inquiry in Animal Husbandry and Bitumen Scams and condemnation by Leftist 'allies', tries to buy time by undermining CBI inquiry by exerting political pressure, planning a 'judicial' coup, fomenting 'civil war' within CBI and attacking bureaucracy, CBI, AG's, the CAG, even the Speaker.
UP: UP continues under President's Rule (with Assembly in suspended animation), BJP-BSP negotiation breaks down and is abandoned because of BSP's insistence on Mayawati becoming Chief Minister.
* Mulayam Singh proposes SP's alliance with Congress but idea shot down by UP Congress (4 Feb). Governor Bhandari maintains opposition to inviting BJP, the biggest single group, to form Government.
Left: CPI and CPM become increasingly critical of Laloo; exert pressure on UF Government against the reduction of agricultural subsidies and for enhancing outlay for employment generation and poverty alleviation programmes.
*CPI enters into electoral understanding with Congress in Punjab, but CPM opposes it as 'opportunism'.
Sangh Parivar: RSS gives free hand to BJP to deal with rising dissidence. BJP forms alliance with Akali Dal to fight Punjab election but disowns Anandpur Resolution. BJP-SAD alliance wins absolute majority (9 Feb). Joins coalition government in Punjab. *RSS, for the first time, celebrates Republic Day (26 Jan). *Criticises role of Christian Church in NE (30 Jan).
*Sekhawat government in Rajasthan survives defection (22 Jan) *Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray loses legal battle; sentenced to one week's imprisonment (7 Feb).
BSP: BSP fighting on its own in Punjab faces rout. Leadership divided on alliance with Congress or BJP. Totally isolated Kanshi Ram loses credibility.
Others: Nijaligappa's invitation to collect ex-Congressmen fails. *T.N. Seshan launches a 'patriotic movement'. Supports presidential system, sees himself as Presidential material.
Social Violence: by Bodos and ULFA in Assam, by Kashmiri separatists in Delhi, by anti-Naxalites in Bihar, by communal forces in Tamilnadu.
National Plan: National Development Council approves Approach to the 9th Plan (10 Jan). States demand more allocation.
National Events: Birth Centenary celebration of Subhash Chandra Bose commences (23 Jan). Sangh Parivar projects Bose as 'Vedic Revolutionary' and Apostle of 'Hindutwa'.
Corruption: CBI gets Bofors papers (21 Jan), names Quattorchi, an Italian, close to Rajiv Gandhi family, as one of recipients. CBI interrogates former CAS Gen. Sundarji who voices suspicion against Rajiv Gandhi (9 Feb). Sonia Gandhi denies any complicity. Congress stands by Rajiv Gandhi and demands publication of Bofors papers (10 Feb). *PM unsuccessfully tries to make his prior clearance mandatory for CBI probe into affairs of Ministers and ex-Ministers.
Presidency: President Sharma rejects government suggestions for nominations to Rajya Sabha.
Secularism: President and PM attend Brahnakmani's annual function (9 Feb)
* President and PM continue round of Hindu temples (29 Jan).
Ajit Singh proposes division of UP into 4 States Mulayam Singh opposes it and calls idea RSS-inspired. *IMM reiterates demands for separate Jharkhand. *Shahabuddin proposes a Second States Reorganisation Commission.
Small States: KÁSHMIR SITUATION
Insurgency: RDX seized in large quantities (23 Jan). Rockets fired on eve of Republic Day on parade venue in Srinagar (24 Jan). *Republic Day observed in Jammu but boycotted by people in Srinagar (26 Jan). *Hurriyat observes Kashmir Day (7 Feb) organises Bandh against PM's visit (14 Feb). Rejects PM's offer of talks (15 Feb).
Government: CM Abdullah calls for all-out war against militants (14 Jan). warns security forces against custodial death (15 Jan) tells army to search houses in presence of occupants (23 Jan) offers dialogue to militants (26 Jan) calls for rebuilding the Valley (27 Jan) creates Special st up under IGP for personnel security (27 Jan).
*Home Minister Inderjit Gupta notes progress in Kashmir and positive response from militants (30 Jan). *Security forces offer unilateral cease-fire for Ramadan and Id (3 Feb). *CM proposes internationalisation of LOC (4 Feb), BJP and Congress flay proposal; left parties do not rule out approach (5 Feb). MOS Maqbool Dar criticises it (8 Feb). Congress formally rejects it (6 Feb).
Question of Autonomy: PM visits State and announces economic package; asks people to wait for autonomy (13 Feb) *MOS Dar rules out more autonomy for State. *Kashmiri Pandit's International Conference (20 Jan) and Ladakh Buddhist Yatra rejects autonomy.
International Reaction: UN S.G. terms Kashmir a bilateral affair (14 Feb). *OIC omits Kashmir from Special Summit agenda (13 Feb) *US Asstt. Secretary of State Robin Raphel visits India, discusses situation with Farooq Abdullah, proposes resumption of Indo-Pakistan talks.
BABARI MASJID
*CBI pleads conspiracy behind demolition of Babari Masjid before CBI Special Court, Lucknow (29 Jan).
*Babari Masjid Movement organises Seminars and discussions on Legal Aspects of Babari Masjid case to mark 11th anniversary of Unlocking (1 Feb). Emphasises need for day-to-day and expeditious hearing of title suit by Special Bench and assurance to Muslims on prompt implementation of final judicial verdict on title (1 Feb)
*Ex-H.M. S.B. Chavan blames PM Narasimha Rao for demolition of Babari Masjid in TV interview 'Ru-ba-ru' (7 Feb). Congress leaders stunned by revelations; Some Congress leaders lash out at Chavan. G.N. Azad, Congress G.S. demands high level probe (8 Feb) Tariq Anwar promises to deal with charge seriously (10 Feb). Pawar holds Chavan equally responsible (14 Feb).
* BMMCC demands summoning of Rao, Chavan and other Ministers by Ayodhya Commission and interrogation by CBI in conspiracy case (10 Feb) Mathura/Varanasi Questions: BJP leader Vajpayee disowns VHP move to launch agitation against Idgah and Masjid (27 Jan).
Bhojshala Question: *VHP launches agitation against performance of Namaz in Bhojshala Masjid in Dhar, MP.
MATTERS OF CONCERN TO MUSLIM COMMUNITY
Reservation: Kisan Kamgar Party leader Ajit Singh proposes 8.4% reservation for Muslims.
*Union Government constitute Cabinet Sub-Committee to monitor implementation of legal safeguard and development programme for OBC, SC, ST and Minorities, but without any Muslim member.
*Madras H.C. rules a high caste women married to SC as eligible for reservation.
*MP Government orders a socio-economic and educational teaching of minorities.
*Union Government publishes revised OBC list from Bihar, Goa and Gujarat, Haryana, Orissa, UP and W. Bengal (7 Feb).
Voting Right: E.C. holds yet another intensive revision of electoral roll in Assam (15 Feb). AASU protests against inclusion of names of children of illegal immigrants born in India (25 Feb).
Religious Service: Some Imams in Kerala issue 'Fatwa' against women's participation in congregational prayer, allowed in at least one major Masjid in Thiruvananthapuram.
*Idul Fitr observed all over the country with peace and eclat (9 Feb). *ASI blocks Friday’s prayers in Safdarjung Mosque in New Delhi, allowed since 1983.
Urdu: First English translation of Mir Taqi Mir released (4 Feb)
Educational Rights: Union Government places its view before 7-Judges Constitution Bench on scope and ambit of Article 30(1) (29 Jan). Issue referred to 11-Judge Bench (6 Feb).
AMU: Azam Khan, MP, accompanied by members of Minorities Forum of India, hold Dharna in New Delhi on situation in AMU Campus (25 Jan).
*AMU Staff Association stage dharna in Aligarh (30 Jan) boycotts classes (5 Feb)
*AMU pleads for recognition as Minority Institution and exemption from reservation for SC/ST in admission and recruitment.
*UP recognises 53 minority educational institutions.
Islamism: Shahabuddin criticises SIM's Campaign for Khilafat as pernicious and suicidal (24 Jan).
*Palani Baba, President, All India Jehad Committee, assassinated (29 Jan). Tamilnadu C.M. blames Hindu Munnani, RSS criticises CM. Killing causes violent clashes, 6 killed (3 Feb).
Muslim Leadership: CBI raids C.K. Jaffer Sharief's residence in Bangalore (18 Jan).
Communal Violence: Communal clash in Gujarat on cow question (8 Feb).
Cultural Heritage: Padshahnama (collection of Mughal miniatures relating to first decade of Shah Jahan, a personal property of Queen of England) in Delhi (27 Jan).
*ASI ordered by Delhi H.C. to evolve plan for restoration of Ghalib's Haveli in Delhi (16 Jan).
Animal Slaughter: S.C. lifts ban on slaughter of buffaloes at Idgah Slaughter House, Delhi (3 Feb).
State Violence: Allahabad H.C. hears petition on expediting trial of PAC personnel indicted for Hashimpura Massacre, 1987 (16 Jan). *NHRC orders compensation for next-of-kin of those killed in encounter and cremated by police in Punjab.
Society: Second group of 46 child beggars, mostly from Murshidabad, repatriated by Saudi Arabia (3 Feb) Commemoration: 426th Urs of Sheikh Salim Chishti observed in Fatehpur Sikri (2 Feb) .* 70th Urs of Sufi Inayat Khan observed in Delhi (5 Feb). *Birth centenary celebration of Dr. Zakir Husain commences with Memorial Lecture by I.K. Gujral in JMI (8 Feb). Government form National Committee.
*Ghalib Day organised by Anjuman Taraqqui Urdu and Ghalib Institute (5 Feb).
Obituary: Akbar Husain Babar, CPI (M) leader, ex-MLA, 70, dies in Lucknow.
* Sheikh Zulfiqarullah, ex MOS, ex President of AIMMM and AIM Majlis, 96, passes away in Allahabad (17 Jan).
* Ataullah Suharwardy, V.P. J&K N.C., 66, dies in Delhi (27 Jan).
* Eminent Urdu poetess Mumtaz Mirza, passes away (29 Jan). Mufti S. Ahmed Ali Sayeed of Deoband, 80, passes away (5 Feb)
Indo-Pakistan Relations: Sharif plays down Kashmir in election campaign, offers bilateral dialogue with India on all outstanding questions, desires normalisation of relations (4 Feb). PM Deve Gowda agrees to hold talks at FM's level (5
Feb). Sharif expects change in 3 months (7 Feb). PM subsequently wants to keep Kashmir out of talks agenda (9 Feb). Sharif repeats need for meaningful dialogue with India on all disputes (10 Feb).
Muslim World: Kuwait says no to Shariat as sole source of legislation (3 Feb).
*Iranian Legislator Faezah Hashmi charges men with manipulating Islamic laws (10 Feb). *Rushdie criticises EU for dealing with Iran (3 Feb). "Nawaz Sharif's party Muslim eague has land slide victory in Pakistan's General Election (4 Feb). Imran blotted out; Benazir Bhutto's PPP finishes poor second. *Spurt in Anti-Christian and anti-Shia violence in Pakistan (19 Jan). *Taliban renews offer of truce but rules out power-sharing (27 Jan).
