CHRONOLOGY
Chronology of the Month (16 April - 15 May, 1997)
NATIONAL POLITICS
United Front Government: *Foreign Minister I.K. Gujral, nominated by the UF and supported by Congress sworn in as PM (21 April). Council of Ministers remains unchanged except D.P. Yadav, Food and Civil Supply Minister. TMC agrees to join Government (27 April). TMC Ministers and Jaipal Reddy sworn in (1 May).
United Front: *CPI leader and W.B. CM Jyoti Basu threaten to quit UF, if Congress joins government (28 April). EMS Namboodripad, however, wants cooperation between Left, Congress and UF to prevent BJP from coming to power without 'corrupt' Congress sharing power (1 May). *JD and UF make electoral adjustment for Lok Sabha and Assembly by-elections (12 May). *UF Steering Committee maintains silence and skirts Fodder Scam (10 May). *UF Convener Chandrababu Naidu criticises UF Government's attitude towards States.
Congress: *Congress agrees to meet EC deadline for holding Presidential election on 9 June. *Sonia Gandhi formally joins Congress. *Jaffer Sharief demands V.N. Gadgil's ouster as Party Spokesman for his controversial booklet on 1996 Election in which he questions secularism as practised by Congress (12 May). *Congress admits receipt of Rs. 3.75 crore foreign contribution. Government issues show cause notice under FRCA (6 May)
JD: *JD leader Biju Patnaik passes away (17 April). Deve Gowda flays 'aging politicians' (22 April). *Party President and Bihar CM Laloo Yadav charges ex-PM Deve Gowda with insincerity, duplicity, political ignorance and childish insistence to retain UF leadership (26 April).
BSP: *Former PM V.P. Singh considers installation of Mayawati as CM of BSP-BJP Government in UP as vindication of his Mandal politics (25 April). *BSP leader Kanshi Ram rules out national level alliance with BJP (3 May).
Electoral Reform: *EC holds all party meet to discuss electoral reforms, Meeting fails to reach consensus except on limiting it to 3 members and arming it with additional powers (7 May).
Uniform Civil Code: *BJP MP's press in Lok Sabha for introduction of Uniform Civil Code (2 May). Congress(I) and CPI(M) advocate patience for sake of social stability.
Secularism: *V.P. K.R. Narayanan inaugurates Rama Krishna Mission centenary celebration (2 May).
Corruption: *Supreme Court suggests limited autonomy for CBI (5 May). *CBI submits report on Bofors Case to Government and seeks sanction for prosecution. Report names Rajiv Gandhi as accessary though not as beneficiary (13 May). Selective leak criticised in Lok Sabha (14 May). Government withholds sanction, pending legal advice and final report (15 May). *Special Court discharges BJP leader and ex-CM Delhi M.L. Khurana from charge of 'receiving illegal gratification (15 May). *CBI claims sufficient evidence against ex-PM Narasimha Rao in St. Kitts Case (29 April). Special Court clears Kesri but authorises chargesheet against Rao (6 May).
Bihar Animal Husbandry Scam: *Laloo threatens to withdraw support to UF Government. Charges CBI with bias and conspiracy in collusion with BJP (29 April). CBI informs Patna High Court that CM and other Ministers involved as conspirators in all A.H. Cases (2 May). Laloo meets Governor Kidwai (4 May). Governor rejects opposition demand for President's rule (7 May). UF Convener Naidu wants Laloo to step down (7 May). Laloo withdraws threat to UF. *15 Left and Democratic Parties form joint front in Bihar to launch movement, parallel to BJP, to seek Laloo's resignation (7 May) *CBI approaches Governor Kidwai for sanction (10 May). Kidwai takes his own time.
States Reorganisation: *Recently formed National Front for Creation of Small States suggests division of UP into small States - Poorvanchal, Bundelkhand, Uttarakhand and Paschimchal (9 May). *A.I. Conference of S.T. Legislators demands tribal majority States and reversion of tribal land (11 May).
KASHMIR SITUATION
Political Development: *Strike cripples State on eve of PM's visit (26 April). PM Gujral visits Jammu; meets refugees from Valley in camps; confirms Deve Gowda's economic package; promises early funding of approved projects; rules out talks with militants and secessionists also rules out internationalisation of LOC (27 April).
Hurriyat: *CBI begins investigation against 3 top leaders, Lone, Geelani and Ansari for violation of FCRA (20 April). *Hurriyat demands representation of Kashmir in Joint Indo-Pakistan Working Group on Kashmir (14 May). Maintains silence on Pakistan HC's rejection of 'third option' (13 May).
Human Rights: *J&K Assembly passes Bill to set up Human Rights Commission and Human Rights Courts (30 April). General strike in Valley against*custodial deaths (12-13 May). Yasin Malik goes on hunger strike against violation of human rights. Home Minister Indrajit Gupta assures investigation (13 May). PUCL agrees to send team (14 May). *State Government chargesheets MUF leaders for communal incitement under TADA after 10 years (24 April).
Insurgency: *Government decides to withdraw army from 3 towns on experimental basis (9 May). *Security forces claim arrest of Al Fateh C-in-C (22 April). *Harkatul Ansar denies report of killing of its chief (6 May).
Indo-Pakistan Talks: *PM Gujral discusses Indo-Pakistan problems including Kashmir with Pakistan at Male during SAARC Summit (14 May). Describes talks as useful and positive. Nawaz Sharif sees change in India's attitude (15 May).
Pakistan: *Pakistan opposes US move to terminate UN Observers Group in J&K (24 April). *Kashmiris stage protest in London against Pakistan to vacate Azad Kashmir (29 April). *Pakistan admits existence of 38 terrorist training camps (11 May). Pakistan National Assembly forms Special Committee on Kashmir (12 May)
Foreign Reaction: *UK: Labour Party leader Tony Blair suggests British intervention over Kashmir (30 April). Govt. of India does not see any major change in UK policy (12 May).
*US: USA welcomes resumption of Indo-Pakistan talks (2 May).
*E.U .: European Parliament's Delegation asks India and Pakistan to approach International Court of Justice to settle Kashmir problem (6 May).
OTHER MATTERS OF CONCERN
State Violence: *To mark 10th anniversary of Hashimpura Massacre (Meerut, 1987) JP leader S.Swamy demands prosecution of all PAC personnel indicted by CID in investigation (20 May). Milli Council organises a meeting in Meerut. *Government refuses to publish CID report, even to arrest or suspend 19 personnel chargesheeted in the criminal case pending with ACJM, Ghaziabad.
*Sri Krishna Commission examines Maharashtra CM M. Joshi (29 April). Joshi justifies Karseva and propounds retaliation theory (30 April). *Then Addl. C.S. Jambunathan alleges Naik Government's failure to identify organisations responsible for riots (22 April).
*Ex-CM Naik criticises Army's and then Defence Minister Pawar's role in Mumbai disturbances (2 May). Naik pleads ignorance of police misconduct or of Shiv Sena and Bal Thackeray's role (5 May).
JMI: *Students boycott examination (2 May). Teachers, students and non-teaching staff form Joint Action Committee for Restoration of Minority Character of University'through amendments to JMI Act, 1988 (6 May). JMI's Academic and Executive Council support demand for amendment (8 May). JAC holds meeting to mobilise support (13 May). Shahabuddin proposes amendments to Minister of HRD Bommai (15 May).
Reservation: *Muslim MP's cutting across party lines oppose reservation for women in legislation without separate quota for Muslim women (15 May). Bill opposed by OBC MP's and JD leader Sharad Yadav; consideration deferred. *OBC's and Muslim leaders demand reservation in legislatures and reservation for women within each quota (SC, ST, OBC, Muslim and General).
*SC orders no dereservation of reserved seats for 3 years; reaffirms reservation in promotion (8 May).
Minorities Commission: *Jain Sant Acharya Tulsi decries any attempt to clarify Jain as a religious minority (14 May). *NCM urges the Union Government to enact comprehensive law on minorities' educational and cultural rights and to institute district minority welfare committees.
Urdu: UP Assembly Speaker bars 2 MLAs - Alam Badi Azmi and Wasim Ahmed from taking oath in Urdu. MLA's threaten to resign. Urdu-speaking minority feels agitated.
*Government promises development of Urdu University during 1996-97 and a review of implementation of Gujral Committee Report (12 May).
*Construction of Zauq's mausoleum by DDA, MCD and ASI begins with removal of tribals and acquisition of land (12 May)
*ASI agrees to preserve Ghalib's Haveli as a national monument.
AMU: *V.C. M. Rahman's remark oh AMU Camps ('bristling with ISI agents and fundamentalists') creates furore (15 April). University explains that he was referring to situation he had faced in Kashmir and was misunderstood.
*Meeting of University Court scheduled for 4 May postponed (29 April).
*V.C. submits Annual Report of University for 1996-97 without approval of EC and Court.
Haj: * Mina tragedy mourned all over the country. Special prayer offered for departed souls in many mosques. Government sends 4-member probe team (24 April). Team submits report to PM (2 May). *CGI, Jeddah, blames guard of Camp 59 for massive casualties. Charges misinterpreted as accusation against Saudi Government and Haj authorities. MEA clarifies (24 April). Both Team and Shahabuddin in separate Statements absolve Saudi Arabian Government and suggests steps for improvement. Final tally is 226 dead and 111 missing and 23 critically ill. Government makes statement in Parliament offers ex-gratia relief (6 May).
Shia-Sunni Conflict: *Shahabuddin appeals to Shias and Sunnis to accept joint decision by Maulana Abul Hasan Ali Nadvi and Dr. Kalbe Sadiq on basis of 'Moharram without Tabarra' (8 May). *Shias protest against State Government's decision to continue ban on Azadari procession and for burial of bodies of 2 self-immolated Shia youth in Muzaffarnagar. Kalbe Sadiq leads (18 April).
Education: *Government announces plan for universalisation of primary education and for making education a fundamental right (27 April). Relations with Other Minorities: *Communal clash between Sikhs and Muslims reported in London (25 April).
Azan Question: *Calcutta H.C. charges Imams of Masjids in Calcutta with violation of orders on non-use of PA System for Azan (8 May).
Wakf: *Punjab Wakf Board claims income of 73 crores during 1991-97 in Annual Report. *Delhi Wakf Board restrained because of delay in reconstitution under the Act, 1995.
Infiltration: *AASU demonstrates in Guwahati on foreigner's issue (8 May).
*Home Minister Indrajit Gupta informs Lok Sabha of '10 million foreign nationals residing illegally in India' (6 May)
Muslim Leadership: *NML leader Ibrahim Sulaiman Sait criticises record of Deve Gowda Government on Muslim grievances (26 April).
Offensive Writings: *Karnataka Government decides to confiscate Kannada novel "Dharmakarma" by P.V. Narayana under protest from the Lingayats (20 April).
*HC restricts Khushwant Singh from publishing autobiography on objection from Maneka Gandhi.
Child Labour: *SC directs Union Government to convene meeting of States to find ways to end employment of children below 14 (2 May).
Indo-Pakistan Relations: *Defence Minister Mulayam Singh reiterates plea for Indo-Pakistani Confederation (22 April). Pakistan dismisses idea as out of place (24 April).
*Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif sees change in Indian attitude towards normalising relations.
Muslim World: *Govt. of India expresses concern at Taliban's threat to demolish Buddha's giant statues at Bamiyan in Afghanistan. *Tussle between Turkish PM Erbakan and military establishment on 'secular order' reaches critical stage. *Russia and Chechenya sign agreement recognising right to independence (15 May).
Obituary: *Eminent scholar Manzoor Ahmed Nomani, 92, passes away in Lucknow; mourned by many Muslim organisations and personalities. Commemoration: *Rohila leader Rahmat . Khan remembered in Bareilly (30 April).
*92nd birth anniversary of the late President Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed officially observed (13 May).
*109th birth anniversary of Asaf Ali officially observed by MCD.
Ramakrishna Hegde On 'Secular' BJP
The Masjid and Mandir, Article 370 and the common civil code are three issues which the BJP never made a mention of during its recent 2conduct in Parliament. For me these three issues are nationally not very important. In the circumstances, hardly anybody can cast aspersions on the BJP's secular character. If the BJP sticks to this stand it might even get a majority in the next Lok Sabha. It is a well-known fact that Vajpayee is much more secular minded than most politicians of the so-called secular parties.
(Source: The Week, 11 May, 1997)
