National Events in September 2000
Sep. 4:
The Cabinet gives clearance for inclusion of more castes in the OBC list.
The British Foreign Secretary, Mr. Jack Straw announces easing of visa rules for entrepreneurs from India.
Sep. 6:
Telecom workers launch nationwide strike in protest against inadequate safeguards prior to the corporatisation of the department from October 1.
The special court at Kottayam constituted for the trial of the Feb.1996 Suryanelli sex scandal (in Kerala) accused sentences 35 persons found guilty to rigorous imprisonment varying from 25 years to four years and imposes fines varying from Rs. 25,000 to Rs. 10,000.
Sep. 7:
The EC derecognises the Lok Shakti, headed by the former Union Minister, Mr. Ramakrishna Hegde, as a state party on the basis of its performance in the Lok Sabha and Assembly polls in 1999.
Sep. 8:
An Indian maize breeder, Dr. Surinder K. Vasal and the Mexican cereal chemist, Dr. Evagelina Villegas have been jointly awarded the World Food Prize for 2000, for their decades-long scientific quest to produce quality protein maize for developing countries.
Sep. 9:
I will always remain a Swayamsevak, says the Prime Minister, Mr. A.B. Vajpayee at a meeting of the Indian-American community at Staten Island near New York.
Sep. 11:
A Delhi High Court exonerates the senior Congress(I) leader and former Union Minister, Mr. H.K.L. Bhagat in a 1984 anti-Sikh riot case in Delhi (in Mansarovar Park in East Delhi on November 1, 1984).
India, Russia and Iran sign an intergovernmental agreement on North-South transport corridor to facilitate faster and cheaper movement of goods from Asia to Europe.
Sep. 13:
The Central Government withdraws the ban on use of non-iodised salt despite protests from the medical community and several State Governments.
Sep. 15:
The Olympic games open in Sydney, Australia.
Underworld don Chhota Rajan and one of his aides seriously injured in a shootout with a rival gang at Bangkok.
The Centre sanctions a special designated court in Chennai to try the 25 cases relating to the Indian Bank scam which involves the bank's former CMD, Mr. M. Gopalakrishnan and 28 others.
Sep. 16:
In an important pronouncement, the Rajasthan High Court declares Jains as a religious minority community and allows teaching institutions set up by them to enjoy minority status under Articles 29 and 30 of the Constitution.
Sep. 18:
The Prasar Bharati issues a notification making it compulsory for cable operators to telecast regional channels of Doordarshan on prime band, in addition to DD-1 and DD-2 in their respective states.
The long-distance and fixed phone services hit nationwide as the Telecom Department officers and junior engineers launch an indefinite work- to-rule agitation.
The President, Mr. K. R. Narayanan presents the Dada Saheb Phalke award for 1999 to film-maker, Mr. Hrishikesh Mukherjee.
Sep. 19:
``India remains committed to a unilateral moratorium on nuclear tests, but we will not allow this stand to stand in the way of our protecting India's supreme natural interest,'' says the Prime Minister, Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee on his return from the U.S.
Karnam Malleswari adds a glorious chapter to Indian sports history at the Sydney International Convention Centre by becoming the first woman to gain an Olympic medal.
Sep. 21:
The ADB approves a $ 300 million loan to help some 1.3 million ``low income'' Indians gain access to housing finance.
The suspended Mumbai High Court judge, Mr. J.W. Singh, facing charges of extortion in nexus with the underworld, dismissed from judicial service.
Sep. 22:
The Kerala High Court suspends the sentence awarded by the Kottayam Special Court on 32 accused in the Suryanelli rape case.
Sep. 25:
A Delhi Court dismisses applications by three of the 17 accused seeking dropping of proceedings against them in the sensational Coomar Narain espionage case which hit the headlines and rattled the Rajiv Gandhi Government in 1985.
Sep. 26:
The Income Tax sleuths raid premises of top Bollywood stars and seal 15 lockers, seize cash and documents.
Sep. 27:
The Union Cabinet decides to increase the number of Padma series of awards for excellence in different fields of activities from 60 to 100.
Sep. 28:
Mr. Nagappa Maradagi, an assistant film director, kidnapped along with Rajkumar escapes from Veerappan's clutches and reaches Gajanur on the Tamil Nadu-Karnataka border.
Archbishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa and Mr. Bhaskar Hirjai Save chosen for this year's Jamnalal Bajaj Award.
Sep. 29:
A special court convicts the former Prime Minister, Mr. P. V. Narasimha Rao and his then Cabinet colleague, Mr. Buta Singh in the JMM MPs' bribery case. Nine others get benefit of doubt.
The Government raises the prices of petroleum products across- the-board, while cutting import and excise duties on crude oil, diesel and motor spirit (petrol).
The Union Minister of State for Agriculture, Mr. S.B.P.B.K. Satyanarayana Rao quits Cabinet.
Mr. Tata Ramachandra Prasad to be the next Cabinet Secretary.
Telecom officers call off their month-long stir after an assurance from the PMO that they will be retained as civil servants in the new corporation.
The Appellate Authority of the Industrial and Financial Reconstruction, stays the order of the BIFR permitting winding up of Bharat Gold Mines Limited, KGF, Karnataka.
Sep. 30:
Mrs. Sushma Swaraj gets back Information and Broadcasting, Mr. Venkaiah Naidu and four others inducted into the Union Cabinet.
The Election Commission derecognises the CPI(M) as a national party but keeps alive its registration as a state party in Kerala, Tripura and West Bengal.
Gen. S. Padmanabhan takes over as the new Chief of the Army Staff from Gen. V. P. Malik.
The Government appoints Dr. D.P.S. Seth as CMD of the Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd.
India's Miss Priyanka Chopra (18), the new Miss World.