National Events in August 1998
1st Aug
The DMK condemns the BJP-led coalition Government's decision to set up a Multi-Disciplinary Monitoring Agency and rejects the Action Taken Report on the final report of the Jain Commission with reference to Mr. M. Karunanidhi.
2nd Aug
The Congress Working Committee accepts the final report of the Jain Commission but rejects the Action Taken Report of the Vajpayee Government.
3rd Aug
The Lok Pal Bill, which will bring the Prime Minister within the purview of the Prevention of Corruption Act and also apply to all Ministers and MPs, is introduced in the Lok Sabha by the Prime Minister.
India's most sophisticated medium range surface-to-air missile, Akash, is test-fired from the interim test range at Chandipur-on- sea.
Two groups of suspected Jammu and Kashmir militants kill at least 35 and injure more than 10 persons in two separate incidents in Chamba district, Himachal Pradesh.
The Lyngdoh Ministry wins a vote of confidence in the Meghalaya Assembly after the entire opposition walks out.
Thirtyfive persons are killed as Govind Towers at Bandra in Mumbai collapses.
4th Aug
The Opposition-sponsored no-confidence motion against the Congress(I) Government in Orissa, led by Mr. J. B. Patnaik, is defeated by voice vote in the Assembly.
Mr. Vajpayee unveils a policy of nuclear restraint that is built around the ideas of ``minimum deterrence'' and a ``no-first-use'' of weapons.
5th Aug
The Commerce Minister, Mr. Ramakrishna Hegde, announces in the Lok Sabha a special package of measures for boosting exports. The interest rate for pre-shipment and post-shipment credit is cut from 11 to 9 per cent.
6th Aug
The Maharashtra Government rejects the Srikrishna Commission findings on the 1992-93 communal riots and the serial blasts in Mumbai, but agrees to act on the panel's suggestions to refurbish the police force.
Lakhs attend an anti-war rally in Calcutta held in remembrance of Hiroshima, which was bombed 53 years ago.
7th Aug
The Chief Ministers of the four riparian States agree on a scheme for implementing the 1991 interim award of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal and for creating a River Valley Authority with the Prime Minister as its head.
The Government announces a banking and foreign exchange package for development of the information technology and software industry following the recommendations of the National Task Force.
9th Aug
India moves the World Trade Organisation against the European Union reimposing anti-dumping duties on unbleached cotton gray fabric imports.
10th Aug
The Prime Minister criticises the denial of a U.S. visa to the Atomic Energy Commission Chairman, Dr. R. Chidambaram, and the blacklisting of Indian scientific institutions.
11th Aug
The Centre notifies a scheme for implementation of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal's interim award.
A big fire breaks out in an IOC distribution depot at Thekeragiri in Nagaon district. The ULFA claims responsibility.
12th Aug
The rupee breaches the 43-level against the dollar to reach a historic low of 43.35.
The Government decides to accede to the Paris Convention on the protection of Industrial Property and the Patent Cooperation Treaty.
13th Aug
The Government announces the ``repatriation'' of the Enforcement Director, Mr. M. K. Bezbaruah, to the Delhi administration.
India signs two agreements with the World Bank for concessional credit through the International Development Association for $115.4 million.
14th Aug
The Government transfers the Revenue Secretary, Mr. N. K. Singh, and the Finance Secretary, Mr. Montek Singh Ahluwalia.
The Goa Speaker, Mr. Tomazinho Cardozo, disqualifies the Chief Minister, Dr. Wilfred Desouza, and nine MLAs of the breakaway group of the Congress(I).
17th Aug
The Rashtriya Janata Party leader, Mr. Shankarsinh Waghela, joins the Rashtriya Loktantrik Morcha.
The six-year-long litigation over the Cauvery between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka ends with the apex court disposing of Tamil Nadu's suit in view of the new scheme framed by the Centre.
The Government issues a notification banning the use of quinacrine, controversial female contraceptive and sterlisation agent.
The National Human Rights Commission recommends compulsory registration of marriages in a bid to check child marriages.
18th Aug
More than 200 persons, including Kailash-Mansarovar pilgrims, are killed in a landslip at Malpa in Uttar Pradesh. Among those killed is Protima Bedi, danseuse.
19th Aug
The AIADMK asks the Prime Minister to issue orders for the reinstatement of the ED Chief, Mr. M. K. Bezbaruah.
20th Aug
The Centre announces the delicensing of the sugar industry.
The Union Cabinet decides to accord a statutory status to the Central Vigilance Commission and the Vigilance Commissioners in accordance with a Supreme Court ruling.
The Punjab and Haryana High Court upholds the conviction of the former Punjab DGP, Mr. K.P.S. Gill, for outraging the modesty of Mrs. Rupan Deol Bajaj, IAS officer.
21st Aug
The CBI raids the houses of the former Bihar Chief Minister, Mr. Laloo Prasad Yadav, in a fresh case for allegedly owning assets disproportionate to his known sources of income.
The Supreme Court directs a Chennai special court to go ahead with proceedings against Ms. Jayalalitha accused in a case of defrauding the Tamil Nadu Government of over Rs. 3 crores by purchasing TANSI land for a throwaway price during her Chief Ministership.
24th Aug
A no-confidence motion against the Tripura Government is defeated by voice vote.
25th Aug
An ordinance conferring statutory status on the Central Vigilance Commission is promulgated.
27th Aug
Stock broker Hiten Dalal and S. Mohan, former assistant vice- president of the Canara Bank Financial Services, are sentenced to 7 years RI for fraudulently siphoning off Rs. 33 crores from a Canara Bank subsidiary.
28th Aug
The President gives his assent to a Bill which enables the Government to take over for the second time the main palace in Mysore, Ambavilas or the Mysore Palace, and the royal paraphernalia.
The Centre directs the States and Union Territories to raise the daily minimum wages from Rs. 35 to 40.
India and Pakistan clash in the Security Council after New Delhi has denounced the running of terrorist training camps in the Pakistan- occupied Kashmir and Afghanistan.
29th Aug
The President gives his assent to the ordinance on the Prasar Bharati Act.
31st Aug
Mr. Vajpayee announces a gift of 10,000 litres of edible oil and five tonnes of milk powder to Namibia to help it fight a severe drought.
The Government announces the features of the one-time amnesty scheme for certain category of taxpayers.
Fourteen Rajasthan MLAs, including two from the BJP, join the Congress(I).
The Government decides to raise the retirement age of the three services chiefs of the armed forces, officers and personnel across the board to 62 years.