National Events in 2001

Jan • Feb • Mar • Apr • May • Jun • Jul • Aug • Sep • Oct • Nov • Dec

Jan. 1:

The West Bengal Government officially renames Calcutta as Kolkata.

Jan. 2:

A grid failure leads to a 12-hour black-out in North India.

Jan. 3:

India, Mongolia sign an extradition treaty and a defence agreement, besides pacts on investment protection and IT.

Jan. 4:

India's indigenously built Light Combat Aircraft is successfully test-flown in Bangalore.

The Union Agriculture Minister, Mr. Nitish Kumar quits Cabinet following differences in the Samata Party.

Jan. 6:

The Home Minister, Mr. L.K. Advani presents the millennium Sikh awards to Mr. Kushwant Singh, the CEC, Dr. M.S. Gill, cricketer, B.S. Bedi, and others in connection with the Khalsa tricentenary.

The Prime Minister, rejects Mr. Nitish Kumar's resignation.

The Centre decides to amend the Hindu Succession Act to confer equal property rights on women.

Jan. 9:

A blaze reduces to ashes the historic Meghalaya Assembly building, constructed before Independence by the British.

Abdul Rauf Dawood Merchant, an aide of the underworld don, Dawood Ibrahim `confesses' to having killed music mogul Gulshan Kumar, on August 12, 1997.

Jan. 10:

The Prime Minister, Mr. A.B. Vajpayee, unequivocally supports the ``sovereignty and territorial integrity of Indonesia''. Jakarta backs India's claim for a U.N. Security Council seat.

Jan. 11:

The Indonesian President, Mr. Abdurrahman Wahid backs the PM's stand on Kashmir, five agreements, including the formation of a Joint Commission and defence cooperation are signed.

Jan. 12:

China for developing productive ties with India, says the visiting Chairman of the National People's Congress of China, Mr. Li Peng.

The Centre lifts curbs on `Ku' band television broadcast signals directly from satellites with immediate effect.

Jan. 13:

The Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister, Dr. Farooq Abdullah, escapes bid on life after two rifle grenades fired by Hizb militants at a function in Srinagar, misses target.

Jan. 15:

Mr. Justice M. Jagannadha Rao, takes office as the 16th Law Commission Vice Chairman.

Jan. 16:

Regional rivalries endangering both peace and progress as ``legacies of past mistrust tend to persist'', says the Prime Minister, Mr. A.B. Vajpayee in a speech at a banquet in honour of the visiting Mauritian PM, Mr. Anerood Jugnath.

Jan. 17:

Deny ticket to people with criminal background, says the President, Mr.K.R. Narayanan at the poll panel golden jubilee fete. The Prime Minister, Mr. A.B. Vajpayee, favours fixed tenure for Parliament, Assemblies.

Jan. 19:

The Supreme Court directs the CBI to probe the July 1995 death of biscuit tycoon, Rajan Pillai.

Jan. 21:

India and Pakistan agree to extend Samjhauta Express service by three years and upgrade facilities.

India, Bangladesh reestablish railway link.

Jan. 23:

The Centre extends J&K ceasefire by another month.

The HAL announces successful trial of PTAE-7, the first indigenously designed turbo jet engine.

Jan. 24:

The Union Cabinet approves delinking of GIC from subsidiaries.

Jan. 25:

The Government confers Bharat Ratna on melody queen, Lata Mangeshkar and shehnai maestro, Ustad Bismillah Khan.

Gulshan Kumar case trial begins in a Mumbai sessions court, three years after the audio king's murder.

India, Algeria sign a partnership declaration'', trade accord.

Jan. 26:

Over 2,000 people die in Gujarat earthquake of 6.9 magnitude on Richter scale. Ahmedabad, Bhuj bear the brunt.

Jan. 27:

Earthquake toll crosses 10,000. The Prime Minister, Mr. A.B. Vajpayee sanctions Rs. 10 crores for immediate relief and aid pours in from nations all over the world.

Jan. 28:

A quake measuring 5.9 on the Richter scale jolts Gujarat, even as the toll touches 20,000. The U.S. announces $ 5 million aid.

Jan. 29:

The Prime Minister, Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee visits Gujarat, announces Rs. 500 crores grant from the National Calamity Relief Fund. The World Bank offers $ 300 million. Fresh tremors trigger exodus.

Feb. 1:

The Union Cabinet decides to impose 2 per cent surcharge on Income Tax and corporate tax for the current financial year.

The Prime Minister moots a ``strategy of partnership'' between the public and private sectors, after inaugurating the nation's first corporatised port at Ennore, near Chennai.

The Cabinet Committee on Disinvestment decides to cut the Government's share in the VSNL from 52.92 per cent to 26 per cent.

Feb. 5:

The Paattali Makkal Katchi quits the Government and the NDA.

Israel sells Barak-1 sea-to-sea missiles to India in a $ 270 million deal.

Feb. 6:

The Paattali Makkal Katchi, throws in its lot with the AIADMK front.

The Union Cabinet decides to curb smoking in public places and gives its nod to ban advertisements of all tobacco products.

Feb. 7:

The Prime Minister constitutes a 10-member National Committee on Disaster Management with himself at its head.

The Eradi Committee on taxation of insurance companies submits report.

Feb 9:

The LCA makes its maiden public flight at the Aero India 2001 international airshow in Bangalore.

The world's biggest Census of India 2001, gets under way.

Feb. 10:

The seven-member Expert Committee on the Mullaiperiyar dam recommends raising the storage level to 142 feet from the current 136 feet.

The Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council chairman, Mr. Subhas Ghising is shot in the head by gunmen who ambush his motorcade at Pankhabari near Kurseong in West Bengal.

India and Russia, sign an historic accord on massive Indian investment in the Sakhalin-1 offshore project in the Russian Far East.

Feb. 11:

The Manipur Chief Minister, Mr. W. Nipamacha Singh, the Deputy Chief Minister, Mr. L. Chandramani and five other Ministers are expelled from the Manipur State Congress Party for six years for ``anti-party activities''.

Feb. 12:

The Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court sets aside the special CBI court's Sept. 9, 1997 order framing charges in the Babri Masjid demolition case against Union Ministers, Mr. L.K. Advani, Dr. M.M. Joshi, Ms. Uma Bharati and five others.

Feb. 13:

The Manipur Chief Minister, Mr. Wahengbam Nipamacha Singh, resigns and the leader of the United Democratic Alliance, Mr. Radhabinod Koijam, stakes claim to form the next government.

The Union Cabinet approves a Rs. 700-crore reconstruction package to relocate the worst-hit Gujarat villages.

Feb. 14:

India and Russia sign an air safety pact.

Feb. 15:

India and Russia, sign a $ 650 million deal for purchase of 310 T-90 main battle tanks, to enhance fire power in desert.

In a major breakthrough, STF and TN police personnel nab Tamil National Liberation Army chief and Veerappan associate, S. Maran, in the Velliangiri Hills on the Tamil Nadu-Kerala border.

Mr. Radhabinod Koijam of the Samata Party, is sworn in Manipur Chief Minister.

Feb. 16:

The Supreme Court gives the go-ahead for the trial of the former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, Ms. Jayalalitha, industrialist Mr. A.C. Muthiah and others in the `Rs. 28.29 crore loss SPIC disinvestment case'.

The CBI begins probe into the death of the biscuit tycoon, Rajan Pillai in a hospital, while in police custody in 1995.

Feb. 17:

The Special Court for CBI cases, New Delhi, frames charges against Harshad Mehta, his brother and two others in the securities scam case of 1991.

Feb 18:

A Division Bench of the Karnataka High Court stays the CAT order quashing the appointment of Mr.R.K. Raghavan as CBI Director.

Feb. 20:

The Centre bans horse whipping.

Feb. 21:

The Government decides to sell majority equity in BALCO to Mumbai-based Sterlite Industries, for Rs. 551 crores.

Feb. 22:

Do not mess with peace, the Prime Minister, Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee warns jehadis, while announcing extension of J&K ceasefire for the third time, till May end.

Feb. 23:

The Government puts on hold the BALCO-Sterlite deal.

Mr. Justice D.P. Wadhwa is appointed President of the National Consumer Disputes Redressal forum.

Feb. 24:

The former West Bengal Chief Minister, Mr. Jyoti Basu, (87) bows out after attending the last session of the current Assembly ending his 55-year career in electoral politics.

Feb. 27:

India, Morocco, sign Delhi Declaration, besides agreements on cultural exchanges, veterinary sanitation and plant protection, marking the visit of King Mohammad VI.

Feb. 28:

India, Bangladesh decide to start Agartala-Dhaka, direct bus service.

March 1:

The nation's population touches 1.02 billion comprising 531,277,078 men and 495,738,169 women.

Tata group forays into Internet service, with the launch of Tatanova.

March 2:

The Centre transfers BALCO management control to Sterlite Industries.

The Union Environment and Forests Ministry, institutes a national award for wildlife protection named Amrita Devi Wildlife Protection Award.

The Bombay Stock Exchange Sensex crashes in the wake of a fresh selling spree by FIIs.

The Kerala High Court upholds a trial court order sentencing former Electricity Minister, Mr.R. Balakrishna Pillai to one year RI in the `graphite Corruption case.'

March 3:

Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu, noted Gandhian, Som Dutt Vedalankar, Bhaskar Save and Vidya Devi are conferred with Jamnalal Bajaj awards for 2000.

March 5:

India, Colombia, sign four agreements to push trade and promote people-to-people exchanges.

March 8:

The Bombay Stock Exchange President, Mr. Anand Rathi, resigns in the wake of allegations of his involvement in a bear cartel.

March 9:

The Sensex plunges by 175 points and the stock markets continue to crash, this time triggered by a payment crises at the Calcutta Stock Exchange.

March 11:

The SEBI, issues fresh guidelines in the wake of the stock market crash, to control the bourses.

March 12:

An indigenously developed AIDS kit for the confirmatory Western Blot test for the virus causing the disease, is launched.

March 13:

The `expose' on Defence deal by the online news website Tehelka.com puts the NDA Government in a spot. The BJP President, Mr. Bangaru Laxman, resigns after being snapped accepting money from a fake ``defence manufacturer'' called West End.

Ms. Chokila Iyer of Sikkim, assumes charge as India's first-ever Woman Foreign Secretary.

March 14:

The Government suspends a senior Army Officer and three Defence Ministry Officials, even as the Army orders an in-house court of inquiry, in the wake of Tehelka.com disclosures.

March 15:

The Defence Minister, Mr. George Fernandes, the Railway Minister and Trinamool Congress Chief, Ms. Mamata Banerjee, her party colleague and Minister of State for External Affairs, Mr.A.K. Panja, quit Cabinet. The Trinamool also leaves the NDA.

March 16:

The Prime Minister, Mr.A.B. Vajpayee orders a judicial probe into the `tehelka tapes' affair.

The former South African President, Mr. Nelson Mandela is presented with the Gandhi Peace Prize, which he shared with the Grameen Bank of Bangladesh.

The U.N. resolutions on Kashmir are not ``self-enforcing'' and the only way forward is a direct dialogue between India and Pakistan, says the U.N. Secretary-General, Mr. Kofi Annan.

The former Kerala Power Minister, Mr.R. Balakrishna Pillai, surrenders before the Special Judge and is sent to prison.

March 17:

The Army appoints Lt. Gen. S.A. Jain to head the court of inquiry to probe the Tehelka tapes case, and lays down terms.

March 18:

The External Affairs Minister, Mr. Jaswant Singh, is appointed the Defence Minister in the place of Mr. George Fernandes.

March 19:

The Calcutta Stock Exchange plunges deeper into the payment crisis.

March 20:

The Agriculture Minister, Mr. Nitish Kumar, is given additional charge of Railways.

The editor-in-chief of tehelka.com, Mr. Tarun Tejpal, deposes before the Army Court of Inquiry and hands over tapes.

The Centre clears a national policy for women empowerment.

The Cabinet okays proposal to make it obligatory for food processors to indicate on their products whether they contained any non-vegetarian ingredient.

March 21:

Melody Queen Lata Mangeshkar, is honoured with Bharat Ratna.

March 22:

The U.S. President, Mr. George Bush, nominates Mr. Robert Blackwill as the next Envoy to India.

The TMC suspends a founder-leader and former Union Minister, Mr. P. Chidambaram for his revolt against the party's alliance with the AIADMK.

March 23:

The Income Tax authorities launch nationwide swoop on stock brokers.

The Supreme Court grants bail to the former Kerala Electricity Minister, Mr. K. Balakrishna Pillai, convicted and jailed in the ``graphite corruption case.''

March 24:

The NDA Government appoints Mr. Justice K. Venkataswami, a retired Supreme Court judge to head the Commission of Inquiry to go into the bribery charges in defence deals.

March 27:

The former CJI, Mr. Justice P.N. Bhagwati, is elected Chairman of the U.N. Human Rights Committee.

Sitar maestro Pandit Ravi Shankar gets the Order of British Empire for his contribution to music.

March 28:

A snag forces the cancellation of the GSLV launch from Sriharikota.

March 30:

The CBI arrests big bull Mr. Ketan Parekh in connection with a Rs. 130-crore pay order scam, in Mumbai. The Sensex tumbles.

The Bihar Governor, Mr. V.C. Pandey grants sanction to the CBI to prosecute the former Chief Minister, Mr. Laloo Prasad Yadav, in a new case related to the multi-crore fodder scam.

March 31:

The Government dismantles Quantitative Restrictions on imports.

April 2:

The former CBEC Chairman, Mr. B.P. Verma, his son and two associates are arrested by the CBI on charges of bribery, corruption.

India, China resume high-level military exchanges.

Qatar clinches oil deal with India involving supply of 7.5 million tonnes of LNG per year, over a period of 25 years, starting at the end of 2003.

April 3:

The Delhi Government defies the Supreme Court order ordering phasing out of diesel buses and run only CNG vehicles, even as chaos reigns on the capital's roads.

April 4:

The Justice K. Venkataswami Commission begins probe into the Tehelka exposure.

April 5:

The Government offers a broad-based dialogue on peace in Kashmir. The Planning Commission Deputy Chairman, Mr. K.C. Pant is named the chief negotiator.

April 7:

The senior Congress (I) leader, Mr. K. Karunakaran quits the CWC, upset over the KPCC decision denying a ticket to his daughter, Ms. Padmaja to contest the Assembly polls.

April 9:

The Asom Gana Parishad joins the National Democratic Alliance.

April 10:

India, Iran issue Teheran Declaration calling for a global regime against terrorism and endorse the Comprehensive Convention on Terrorism being considered by the U.N.

April 11:

The Madras High Court dismisses the former Chief Minister, Ms. Jayalalitha's plea seeking suspension of her conviction in the TANSI land deal case.

The Punjab police arrest Wassan Singh Zaffarwal, a close associate of Bhindrawale and head of the Khalistan Commando Force in Amritsar.

April 12:

The Prime Minister, Mr. A.B. Vajpayee offers a $ 200m credit line to Iran, in a bid to triple bilateral trade.

April 15:

The TMC expels the former Union Finance Minister, Mr. P. Chidambaram for his decision to campaign against the AIADMK-TMC alliance in the Assembly election.

The SEBI chairman, Mr. D.R. Mehta submits report on the stock market crisis.

April 16:

The Planning Commission member, Mr. Montek Singh Ahluwalia, is appointed the first independent evaluator of the IMF.

April 17:

The Union Cabinet gives its nod for bringing the office of the Prime Minister within the ambit of the Lok Pal Bill.

Prof. Abhijit Vinayak Banerjee, Professor of Economics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, is chosen for the inaugural Malcolm Adiseshiah award.

April 18:

India successfully launches the GSLV, its biggest rocket from the Sriharikota range.

At least 16 BSF men die in firing by the Bangladesh Army and the Bangladesh Rifles personnel on the Boraibori post on the Assam-Meghalaya- Bangladesh border.

April 20:

In a major ruling, the Supreme Court holds that a married woman, even if divorced and staying with her parents, cannot be counted as a member of her parent's family.

April 24:

The nomination of the former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, Ms. Jayalalitha for the Assembly election is rejected in all the four constituencies.

April 25:

The Finance Minister, Mr. Yashwant Sinha, announces more sops for Income Tax payers, raises standard deduction, proposing amendments to the Financial Bill, 2001.

April 26:

The Government appoints a 30-member Joint Parliamentary Committee to probe the stock market scam.

The Centre confers on Ms. Sarada Hoffmann, the first Rukmini Devi Award.

Gujarat police nab the chief executive officer of the Madhavpura Mercantile Cooperative Bank, Mr. Devendra Pandya, described as the ``main designer'' of the stock market upheaval, from his Ahmedabad residence.

April 27:

Lt. Gen. Prakash Mani Tripathi, a two-term MP from Uttar Pradesh, is appointed the Chairman of the JPC set up to probe the stock market scam.

April 28:

The Centre enters into a formal ceasefire agreement with the Khaplang group of the NSCN.

The Centre bans the Deendar Anjuman.

April 29:

A huge fire breaks out in the ammunition dump of the Army's Mamoon cantonment near Pathankot in Gurdaspur district, destroying 40 tonnes of heavy ammunition worth Rs. 15 crores.

May 1:

India along with the European Union and 14 other countries, is brought under the `Special 301' priority watchlist of the United States Trade Representative for violation of intellectual property rights.

In a major order, the Supreme Court holds that the burden of proof lies with the person who comes to court seeking annulment of marriage on the ground that his spouse was of unsound mind.

May 3:

Veteran Congress leader and former Gujarat Chief Minister, Mr. Chhabildas Mehta, quits the party's primary membership.

May 4:

The Special CBI court trying the Babri Masjid demolition case puts on hold the trial of 21 accused in the case.

India and Croatia sign a bilateral investment promotion agreement which shall remain in force for 10 years.

May 5:

The Special Cell of Delhi police arrest six persons in Jahangirpuri in North-West Delhi and foil an ISI-backed plot to eliminate the Tehelka.com Chief Executive, Mr. Tarun Tejpal and editor investigation of the site Mr. Aniruddha Bahal.

The Armed forces begin the biggest ever war games, codenamed Operation Poorna Vijay, since the 1987 ``Operation Brasstacks'', in Thar desert, Rajasthan.

May 7:

Heart surgeon, Dr. Inderjit Singh Virdi, becomes the first Indian to be admitted to the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons.

May 8:

The senior BJP leader, Mr. Kidar Nath Sahani, is appointed Governor of Sikkim. Mr. Amolak Rattan Kohli is the new Governor of Mizoram. Mr. N. N. Jha is named the Lieutenant-Governor of Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

The Arunachal Pradesh Education Minister, Mr. Dera Natung, Ms. Nandita Judge, deputy managing director of The Times of India group and four others die as their Pawan Hans chopper crashes near Itanagar.

May 9:

The Union Cabinet throws open the Defence equipment production to the private sector and foreign direct investment of up to 26 per cent.

The Prime Minister, Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee dedicates to the nation the Jamnagar-Loni LPG pipeline, the longest of its kind in the world at Loni, U.P.

May 10:

The AIADMK wins a landslide victory in Tamil Nadu Assembly polls. The Congress(I) wrests Kerala and Assam. The Left Front retains West Bengal securing its sixth consecutive term.

India offers a grant of $ 5 million to Tajikistan to tackle the drought situation and concludes five agreements. The Prime Minister, Mr. A.B. Vajpayee and the Tajik President, Mr. Imamoli Sharifovic Rakhmonov, sign a joint declaration on mutual relations.

May 11:

The Cabinet Committee on Security, decides to create an integrated headquarters for the defence services and defence intelligence agency.

India believes a credible minimum nuclear deterrent is the basic security umbrella ``we owe to our people'', says the Prime Minister, Mr.A.B. Vajpayee on the third anniversary of the Pokhran tests.

May 14:

The AIADMK general secretary, Ms. J. Jayalalitha is sworn in Tamil Nadu Chief Minister.

India and Malaysia sign seven agreements, including one between IRCON International and the Malaysian Transport Ministry for the construction of a $ 1.8 billion railway line in Malaysia.

Army submits its internal enquiry report on the Tehelka expose to the Union Government.

May 15:

India and Malaysia sign 15 agreements, and New Delhi also offers the use of GSLV to Kuala Lumpur to launch its own satellites.

May 16:

Mr. Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, is appointed West Bengal Chief Minister, after steering the Left Front to an unprecedented sixth consecutive victory.

May 17:

Mr. A.K. Antony is sworn in the 18th Chief Minister of Kerala by the Governor, Mr. S.S. Kang.

May 18:

A 17-member Ministry headed by Mr. Tarun Gogoi is sworn in in Assam.

The Prime Minister, Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee, launches the Rs. 150-crore Khetihar Mazdoor Bima Yojna for the welfare of agricultural workers, the first-ever such scheme for the sector, in New Delhi.

May 20:

The CBSE bans dissections in biology practicals in the senior school curriculum with immediate effect.

May 21:

The three-month-old Samata Party-led People's Front Ministry in Manipur headed by Mr. Radha Binodh Koijam is defeated in a vote of confidence in the Assembly.

Mr. K.P. Singh, is appointed the next Director of the Intelligence Bureau.

May 24:

A devastating fire breaks out in a forward Army ammunition depot at Birdhwal, 20 km from Suratgarh town in Sriganganagar district near the international border, in Rajasthan.

May 25:

The Prime Minister, Mr. A.B. Vajpayee invites the Pakistan Chief Executive, Gen.Pervez Musharraf to visit India.

To speed up trial, a special court in New Delhi, orders separation of the Rs. 64 crores Bofors payoff case.

May 26:

Mr. Nagendra Nath Jha, is sworn in the Lt. Governor of Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

May 29:

``Kashmir is the core, but we will discuss other issues too,'' says the Pakistan Chief Executive, Gen. Pervez Musharraf accepting the talks offer made by the Prime Minister, Mr. A.B. Vajpayee.

The Enron-promoted Dabhol announces decision to terminate the Power Purchase Agreement with the Maharashtra State Electricity Board.

May 31:

The Government declares as illegal the use of its emblem by private websites.

June 1:

In a major change of command, Air Marshal S. Krishnaswamy, is appointed the new Vice Chief of Air Staff.

The CBI files chargesheet in a Mumbai Court against the stock broker, Ketan Parekh and five others, in the Rs. 137 crore pay order scam.

June 2:

The Centre imposes President's rule in Manipur, the Assembly is kept under suspended animation.

The World's highest ground-based telescope located 45,177 metres above sea level at mount Saraswat Hanley in Ladakh starts functioning.

June 3:

The Prime Minister, Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee, announces a five-year excise duty holiday for industries in Gujarat's quake-ravaged Kutch district.

June 4:

India endorses Russian proposal for joint development and production of a fifth generation fighter plane to replace the SU-30MKI.

June 6:

The Venkateswami Commission probing the Tehelka tapes expose, begins public hearing.

June 11:

The former Tamil Nadu DGP and Chief of the STF, Mr. Walter Dawaram is to lead joint operations with Karnataka to nab forest brigand Veerappan.

June 13:

Mr. James Michael Lyngdoh (62), takes over as the new Chief Election Commissioner from Dr. M.S. Gill and will be at the helm till February 2004. Mr. Brij Bihari Tandon joins as an Election Commissioner.

The Tamil Nadu Government decides to pay Rs. 310.51 crores, being the entire interest and penal interest payable by farmers to cooperative societies as on June 30, 2000.

June 14:

The Centre and the NSCN (I-M) formally agree to extend the four-year-old ceasefire in Nagaland by one more year and enlarge it to cover all Naga inhabited areas in the entire North-east.

June 18:

Protestors set afire the Assembly, the Chief Minister's Secretariat buildings in Manipur. The Army is called out to check the rioters and 13 persons die in police firing.

June 19:

Fresh violence rocks the interior areas of Manipur valley district, even as the Army stages flag march in Imphal and its outskirts.

June 20:

The BALCO transfers its entire top managment to Korba in Chhattisgarh as part of a move to shift its head office from New Delhi.

June 22:

Fifty eight persons die and 230 others sustain injuries after four compartments of the Mangalore-Chennai Mail, derails and plunges from a bridge into the Kadalundi river, 20 km from Kozhikode in Kerala.

June 25:

The Union Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs, Ms. Uma Bharati, joins the Bajrang Dal.

June 26:

The Government clears the long awaited Competition Bill.

The Khalistan protagonist, Dr. Jagjit Singh Chauhan (73) arrives in New Delhi, ending a 21-year-old exile in Britain since May 15, 1980.

June 27:

India, Germany sign an extradition treaty to combat crime and terrorism with mutual cooperation.

June 29:

India and Turkey, sign an extradition treaty whereby they are to cooperate in fighting crime and criminality.

June 30:

The former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, Mr. M. Karunanidhi and the retired Chief Secretary, Mr. K.A. Nambiar, are arrested in Chennai for questioning in connection with the flyover case and a few other alleged cases of corruption during the previous DMK regime. The Chennai Mayor, Mr.M.K. Stalin, named the main accused in the flyover case, surrenders in court.

July 1:

The Tamil Nadu Governor, Ms. Fathima Beevi resigns.

July 2:

The Tamil Nadu Government orders the release of the two Union Ministers, Mr. Murasoli Maran and Mr. T.R. Baalu.

Indo-Bangladesh border talks begin in Dhaka.

July 3:

The Tamil Nadu Government backs down, drops the cases against the Union Ministers, Mr. Murasoli Maran and Mr. T.R. Baalu.

The UTI suspends sale and purchase of US-64 scheme for six months and also prunes dividend leading to a tumbledown in the stock market.

Transport corporations of India and Bangladesh, sign a historic agreement to run an Agartala-Dhaka bus service, in Agartala.

July 4:

The Jayalalithaa Government frees the former Chief Minister, Mr. M. Karunanidhi.

The Government clears the decks for Air India disinvestment.

The Dhaka talks on the Indo-Bangladesh border issue ends in failure.

July 6:

The Government disqualifies both the bidders-the Hindujas and Videocon-for Indian Airlines disinvestment leaving Tata-Singapore Airlines as the sole bidder for Air India.

July 7:

The Paattali Makkal Katchi, snaps ties with the AIADMK.

July 8:

India and Bangladesh formally agree to introduce a fully reserved passenger train service between Sealdah (Kolkata) and Bangabandhu Setu East in Bangladesh.

July 9:

In a historic decision, India decides to lift barriers at specific locations along the LoC so that Kashmiris living in PoK and those holding Pakistani passports can travel to Jammu and Kashmir.

July 10:

Doordarshan News announces the launch of its online news channel, ddinews.com on the worldwide web.

July 11:

The Maharashtra Government announces a judicial probe into the Enron deal.

The first passenger train from Bangladesh (to run between Sealdah and Dhaka) in 36 years, arrives at the Gede station in Nadia district, West Bengal.

July 12:

The long-awaited commercial run of the Dhaka-Agartala direct bus service starts.

July 13:

The stretched Rohini Satellite Series (SROSS-C2) launched by the ISRO on May 4, 1994 reenters atmosphere.

July 14:

The Pakistan President, Gen. Pervez Musharraf, arrives in New Delhi on a three-day visit; holds talks with the Home Minister, Mr. L.K. Advani, the External Affairs Minister, Mr. Jaswant Singh.

July 15:

The Prime Minister, Mr. A.B. Vajpayee accepts an invitation to visit Pakistan during one-to-one talks with Gen. Pervez Musharraf, in Agra.

The UTI Board of Trustees announces measures to bail out small investors holding up to 3,000 units in its Unit scheme - 64 and decides to make it Net Asset Value based from Jan. 1, 2002. Mr. M. Damodaran is appointed the new UTI chairman, for one year.

July 16:

Kashmir, cross-border terrorism derail Vajpayee Musharraf talks in Agra.

India and Israel sign a defence deal worth $2 billion, including the purchase of three Phalcon early warning aircraft, surface-to-surface missiles and air surveillance radar by New Delhi.

July 17:

The Union Cabinet rejects the Agra talks, as no closure was reached on the text of an agreement.

July 19:

The Agra talks ``not unsuccessful'' and dialogue with Pakistan will go on, says the Prime Minister, Mr. A.B. Vajpayee at an all-party meeting of leaders in Parliament, in New Delhi.

The Supreme Court sets aside the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (S) president, Mr. Shibu Soren's election to the Rajya Sabha.

The Kerala Government decides to revive the Silent Valley hydroelectric project, two decades after abandoning it in the face of global protest.

July 20:

A three-judge bench of the Supreme Court, admits petitions challenging the appointment of Ms.Jayalalithaa as Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and refers the case to a Constitution bench.

Thirteen persons, including three women pilgrims and two police officials, die in a grenade attack by an LeT militant, on a camp near Seshnag en route to the Amarnath cave shrine in Jammu and Kashmir.

July 21:

The CBI arrests the former UTI chairman, Mr. P.S. Subramanyam, the Executive Directors, Mr. M.M. Kapur and Mr. S.K. Basu and a stock broker, Mr. Rakesh Mehta for misappropriating public funds.

July 22:

The Rashtriya Lok Dal leader, Mr. Ajit Singh is inducted into the Union Cabinet and given the Agriculture portfolio.

July 23:

India rejects the British Government's plea for granting clemency to Mr. Peter Bleach, a key accused in the December 1995 Purulia arms drop case, who is serving a prison term in Kolkata.

The Government appoints Mr. R. Rajagopalan as the Director-General of the National Security Guards.

July 24:

The Supreme Court directs the Haryana Government to take back 500 acres of land gifted to the former Prime Minister, Mr. Chandra Shekhar for his Bhondsi Ashram, as the land was being misused.

The Government reconstitutes the Disinvestment Commission, and appoints Mr. R.H. Patil, chief of the Clearing Corporation of India, as the new chairman.

Parliament repeals the Industrial Disputes (Banking Companies) Act as it had outlived its utility.

July 25:

The Samajwadi Party MP and former ``bandit queen'', Ms. Phoolan Devi, is shot dead by three car-borne assailants outside her residence, a stone's throw from Parliament House in New Delhi.

The Paattali Makkal Katchi, is back in the NDA fold, five months after quitting it.

July 26:

The Prime Minister, Mr. A.B. Vajpayee announces the Government's decision to institute two Kargil gallantry awards: Operation Vijay Star and Operation Vijay Medal.

The Union Minister for S&T, Dr. M.M. Joshi, is elected as a honorary member of the Russian Academy of Natural Sciences, the first Indian to get the rare honour.

July 27:

The Centre decides to restrict ceasefire agreement to Nagaland after a meeting between the Prime Minister and the Northeast Chief Ministers, in New Delhi.

Police arrest the prime suspect in the Phoolan Devi murder case, Sher Singh Rana alias Pankaj Singh, in Dehra Dun, who confesses he did it to avenge the Behmai massacre in 1981.

July 28:

Assamese writer, Ms. Indira Goswami, is selected for the Jnanpith award for her outstanding contribution to the enrichment of Indian literature through her creative writing.

July 30:

Parliament approves imposition of President's rule in Manipur.

Mr. Rajendra Singh from Alwar of Rajasthan gets Ramon Magsaysay Award for community leadership. Two women activists, Ms. Dita Indah Sari of Indonesia and Ms. Oung Chantol of Cambodia, jointly win the Emergent Leadership 2001 Ramon Magsaysay Award.

July 31:

The Prime Minister, Mr. A.B. Vajpayee stung by criticism of his regime from within the BJP and the NDA, offers to resign, but relents later.

Aug. 1:

The extension of the ceasefire in Nagaland for the sixth time, comes into effect.

Mr. O.P. Srivastava, takes over as the new Chairman of the Central Board of Direct Taxes.

In a major reshuffle in the Indian Air Force, Air Marshal S. Krishnaswamy, takes over as Vice-Chief of the Air Staff.

Aug. 3:

The JPC on stock scam under Mr. Prakash Mani Tripathi to probe UTI fiasco, says the Speaker, Mr. G.M.C. Balayogi.

Security forces foil a major attempt by militants to target Amarnath pilgrims in Poonch district, killing two Hizb ultras in an encounter.

Aug. 6:

Twenty five mentally ill persons, including 11 women die in a devastating fire in a private lunatic asylum at Erwadi in Ramanathapuram district, Tamil Nadu.

Aug. 7:

The Rajya Sabha passes the Repealing and Amending Bill, 1999, repealing 357 legislation that had become obsolete or redundant in one go.

Aug. 8:

The U.S. restores duty-free benefits to Indian items.

The Supreme Court permits Mr. Prakash Hinduja, a Swiss national and an accused in the Rs.64-crore Bofors payoff case, to leave India.

Aug. 9:

The Lok Sabha passes the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers' Rights Bill.

Mr. Justice K. Jayachandra Reddy, is appointed the Press Council of India Chairman.

Aug. 10:

The Tamil Nadu Government, orders closure of all the 16 mental asylums in and around Erwadi in Ramanathapuram district.

Aug. 16:

Twenty three persons lose their lives after an explosion rips through a unit of the State-owned Tamil Nadu Industrial Explosives Ltd., at Christianpet, near Katpadi, in Vellore district.

The Justice Venkataswami Commission begins in-camera proceedings into the sensitive defence deal, `Kornet-E', identified in the Tehelka tapes.

Aug. 17:

Non-MLAs cannot be reappointed Ministers beyond six months, rules the Supreme Court.

The Union Cabinet approves the repeal of the Sick Industrial Companies (Special Provision) Act of 1985, in a bid to speed up the closure of sick industries.

Aug. 19:

The Assam Government bans gram sale following the death of three persons due to food poisoning which also affects 3,000 people.

Aug. 20:

The Indian Agriculture Research Institute (IARI) develops and releases three new varieties of rice, including the world's first hybrid variety codenamed RH-10.

Aug. 21:

The Lok Sabha passes a Constitution Amendment Bill, extending the current freeze on the number of seats in the Lok Sabha and the State Assemblies till 2026 but providing for fresh delimitation to alter the size of the constituency.

Aug. 22:

Furore in Lok Sabha on the alleged use of women as ``honeytraps'' by tehelka.com in its bid to expose corruption in defence deals.

Aug. 25:

The Supreme Court quashes quota for AIIMS graduates in post graduate courses and asks the institution to adopt a uniform 50 per cent marks in the entrance test as the eligibility criteria.

In a major breakthrough, Indian scientists successfully sequence the complete genome of the Indian strain of Hepatitis C virus.

Aug. 27:

The Trinamool Congress is readmitted into the NDA fold and the PMK's re-entry is also formalised.

The Union Cabinet clears the Communications Convergence Bill, seeking to bring the various segments of the communications sector on one platform.

Aug. 29:

The Railways announces a special `safety' levy on all passenger tickets and hikes fares across the board.

Aug. 30:

The Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, Ms. Jayalalithaa suffers a setback after the Supreme Court stays proceedings in the Madras High Court in the appeals filed by her challenging her conviction in the ``TANSI land deal'' and ``Pleasant Stay hotel'' cases.

Parliament approves the Indian Divorce (Amendment) Bill, 2000 to give Christian women the right to seek marriage annulment by removing gender bias.

Aug. 31:

The Union Minister, Mr. Sunderlal Patwa resigns from the Cabinet on health grounds.

The Hindujas withdraw from AI disinvestment.

India announces duty cuts for Pakistan products, including newspapers and books in a list of 50 tariff lines.

The Gujarat Assembly adopts an official bill cancelling the pension for its members.

Sept. 1:

The Prime Minister, Mr. A.B. Vajpayee shifts Mr. Sharad Yadav from Civil Aviation Ministry to the Labour Ministry and Mr. Ram Vilas Paswan gets Coal and Mines, in a reshuffle and inducts six new faces into the Union Council of Ministers.

Singapore Airlines pulls out of AI disinvestment, leaving Tatas the sole bidders.

All India Radio's FM2 Channel goes on air in all the four metros.

Mr. Govindavasan, is unanimously elected TMC president.

Sept. 2:

AIIMS not a university, rules the Supreme Court.

Sept. 4:

The former Assam Chief Minister, Mr. Prafulla Kumar Mahanta quits as the Asom Gana Parishad president in the wake of a row over his ``second marriage'' with Ms. Sangamitra Bharali, an employee of the State Secretariat, last March.

Sept. 6:

The SEBI formulates a six-point strategy to prevent stock scams in the future.

Veteran leader, Mr. Brindaban Goswami, is elected AGP president.

Sept. 7:

The Supreme Court directs the Madras High Court to appoint another judge to hear afresh the 18 appeals in the `TANSI' and `Pleasant Stay Hotel' cases filed by the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, Ms. Jayalalithaa and others.

Eminent theatre artist, Bhanumati Devi, gets the Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra Award for 2001 for her lifetime contribution to Oriya theatre.

Sept. 12:

Mrs. Sonia Gandhi is a citizen of India, rules the Supreme Court.

Sept. 15:

The Cabinet Committee on Security, decides to institute the first-ever Integrated Defence Staff and clears the establishment of a tri-service command in the Andaman and Nicobar islands.

Sept. 16:

Enron rejects the $ 400 million offer by financial institutions towards equity settlement as ``unacceptable.''

The Centre clears the launch of the Sampoorna Grameen Rozgar Yojana aimed at providing jobs for the rural poor.

Sept. 20:

The ADB clears a $ 240 million loan to India to modernise a section of the transport corridor that links Chennai, Mumbai, Kolkata and Delhi.

Sept. 21:

A five-judge Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court quashes the appointment of Ms. Jayalalithaa as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, saying it is `a clear infringement of the Constitution'. Mr. O. Paneerselvam is sworn in Chief Minister at the head of a 24-member Cabinet.

Sept. 23:

The Bush administration lifts sanctions against India and Pakistan, imposed in the aftermath of the 1998 nuclear tests.

Sept. 24:

AICTE nod not obligatory for universities to launch technical courses, rules the Supreme Court.

Sept. 25:

A `moderate' earthquake measuring 5.6 on the Richter scale, rocks parts of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Pondicherry.

The Union Communications Minister, Mr. Pramod Mahajan, abolishes telephone advisory committees.

Sept. 26:

The Union Government declares the Roorkee University in Uttaranchal as an Indian Institute of Technology.

Sept. 27:

The Centre bans the Students Islamic Movement of India for two years.

The Supreme Court rules that no crackers can be burst except between 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. and those which produces noise beyond 125 decibels should not be fired, during festivals.

Sept. 28:

In a major judgment, the Supreme Court upholds the validity of the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Divorce) Act and rules that a husband is liable to make provision for the future of the divorced wife.

Sept. 30:

The deputy leader of the Congress in the Lok Sabha, Mr. Madhavrao Scindia and seven others die in a plane crash near the Motta railway station in Mainpuri district of Uttar Pradesh.

Oct. 1:

Thirtysix persons are killed as a Jaish-e-Mohammad suicide bomber targets the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly in Srinagar. The Legislative Council building is gutted.

Lt. Gen. Pankaj Joshi, takes over as the country's first Chief of Integrated Defence Staff.

Oct. 3:

Mr. Keshubhai Patel quits as Gujarat Chief Minister.

Oct. 4:

The President gives his assent to the Energy Conservation Bill, 2001, making India the second country in the world to have such a unique law.

Oct. 5:

The Madras High Court, acquits John David, accused in the murder of a medico, Navarasu, son of the then Madras University Vice-Chancellor, Prof. P.K.Ponnuswamy on Nov. ember 6, 1996 in a hostel on the Annamalai University campus in Chidambaram, for want of evidence.

Oct. 6:

The country's first tri-service unified command at the ground level (theatre) becomes operational with Vice-Admiral Arun Prakash taking over as the Commander-in-Chief of Andaman and Nicobar command.

Oct. 7:

The rebuilt 600-year-old Charar-e-Sharief, in Srinagar (gutted in a two-month stand-off between militants led by Afghan warlord, Mast Gul and security forces on May 10, 1995) is formally opened to the public.

Mr. Narendra Modi, is sworn in Gujarat Chief Minister.

Oct. 9:

The Group of Ministers headed by the Union Finance Minister, Mr.Yaswant Sinha clears a Rs.2,993-crore package for NTC revival.

Oct. 10:

Eminent space scientist, Prof. U.R.Rao, is appointed Prasar Bharati Chairman.

Oct. 12:

The Venkataswami Commission holds that the Tehelka tapes are genuine.

India's ``most wanted criminal'', Farooque Ismail Memon involved in embezzlement of crores of rupees through forgery, is nabbed at Mumbra, in Thane district, Maharashtra.

Oct. 15:

The Prime Minister, Mr.A.B.Vajpayee, inducts the NDA convener, Mr. George Fernandes as the Defence Minister and Mr. Harin Pathak as Minister of State for Defence, in a minor Cabinet reshuffle.

Oct. 16:

The Union Cabinet approves the promulgation of the Prevention of Terrorism Ordinance, 2001.

Oct. 17:

The US and India are united against terrorism and that includes the terrorism that has been directed against India as well,`` says the U.S. Secretary of State, Gen. Colin Powell, in New Delhi after a meeting with the Prime Minister, Mr.A.B.Vajpayee.

India and the U.S., sign a Treaty on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters.

VHP leaders force entry into the disputed site in Ayodhya and offer pooja to the deity.

Oct. 22:

The ISRO successfully launches from the Sriharikota range the PSLV which places three satellites in orbit, with the Technology Experiments Satellite (TES) considered to be India's first attempt at a military spy satellite.

Oct. 23:

The Union Cabinet clears the first-ever subsidy-based housing scheme - Valmiki Ambedkar Awas Yojana - for urban slum-dwellers.

Oct. 24:

Presidential nod for the Prevention of Terrorism Ordinance.

Mr. Sudhakar Kurudkar, a retired Supreme Court judge is named by the Maharashtra Government to probe the Enron deal.

Oct. 26:

Japan lifts sanctions against India and Pakistan imposed in the wake of May 1998 nuclear tests by the two nations.

The Government bans 23 outfits, including Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba and Harkat-ul-Mujahideen, besides the LTTE and the ULFA.

Oct. 28:

The German Chancellor, Mr.Gerhard Schroeder approves a $32 million credit for the Tehri dam project in Uttaranchal.

Oct. 29:

The Union Cabinet extends the statute panel's term till February 2002-end.

Oct. 30:

Air Marshal S. Krishnaswamy is named the next chief of the IAF.

Mr.Bhagat Singh Koshiary, is sworn in the second Chief Minister of Uttaranchal.

Oct. 31:

Mr.H.Y. Sharada Prasad, is presented with the Indira Gandhi Award for National Integration.

Nov.1:

Mr. Justice Sam Piroj Bharucha, is sworn in Chief Justice of India.

Senior Hurriyat Conference leader, Mr. Abdul Gani Lone, escapes bid on life, after militants spray bullets on his house in Srinagar.

Nov. 2:

The Supreme Court bans smoking in public places throughout the country with immediate effect.

The CBI implicates all the 123 accused, including film star Mr. Sanjay Dutt in the plot leading to the Mumbai serial blasts on March 12, 1993 in which more than 200 persons died.

Mr. R.K. Gauba, is designated a special judge to hear the Bofors payoff case.

Nov. 3:

Lifting a 13-year-old ban, the Government allows foreign armament companies to have authorised agents, however, with tougher guidelines.

The Centre gives financial nod to start work on the Rs. 13,171 crore Koodankulam n-plant in Tamil Nadu, with Russian technical assistance.

For the first time in the world, scientists at the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Hyderabad, develop a transgenic fruit fly system to screen and validate drugs against cancer.

Nov. 8:

Health Ministers endorse a draft policy on Indian medicine.

Thirtysix persons, 24 of a family die in a massive landslip at Amboori in Neyyatinkara taluk in Thiruvananthapuram district of Kerala.

Nov. 9:

The CBI arrests Mr. Harshad Mehta and two of his brothers for alleged misappropriation of 27 lakh shares of 90 blue chip companies, from their Mumbai residence.

Nov. 10:

Dr. R. Chidambaram, former Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission, is appointed the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government.

Nov. 11:

India possesses a hydrogen bomb and its nuclear weapons are absolutely safe, says Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam.

Nov. 12:

The Union Finance Minister, Mr. Yashwant Sinha, gives the green signal to public sector banks to take large and wilful defaulters to court.

Nov. 14:

The Government accepts the TRAI recommendations on opening of international long distance communication to unlimited competition.

Nov. 15:

The Union Cabinet decides to extend President's rule in Manipur by six months to June 2002 and to amend the Indian Succession Act to provide a better deal for Christian women.

Nov. 19:

The President, Mr. K.R. Narayanan, presents the Indira Gandhi Prize 2000 for Peace, Disarmament and Development to Ms. Mary Robinson, U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights and former President of Ireland.

Prof. R. Natarajan, former Director of IIT, Chennai assumes charge as the AICTE chairman.

The world's highest airfield in Leh becomes operational.

Nov. 20:

The Government makes possession of lethal explosives punishable by death or life imprisonment with the Rajya Sabha passing the Explosives Substances (Amendment) Bill, 1999.

Nov. 23:

The India-EU Summit in New Delhi, agrees to root out terrorism anywhere and in any form. An accord on upgrading bilateral cooperation in S & T is also initialled.

The Delhi High Court orders removal of Dr. Ketan Desai as Medical Council of India chief for his ``involvement'' in corrupt practices.

The Centre extends the term of the Venkataswami Commission probing the Tehelka expose on corruption in defence deals till March 28, 2002.

Nov. 25:

A high-level conference on ``Discipline and Decorum in Parliament and State Legislatures'' adopts a resolution to ensure orderliness in legislatures.

Nov. 27:

The Union Cabinet sets up a new Cabinet Committee on Economic Reforms to speed up second generation reforms.

Mr. Kirpal Badungar, is elected the 36th president of the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee.

Nov. 28:

The Lok Sabha passes the Constitution Amendment Bill to make education for children in the 6-14 age group a fundamental right.

Dec. 4:

The Madras High Court, acquits the former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, Ms. Jayalalithaa and all others of all charges in the TANSI land deal and Pleasant Stay Hotel cases.

India and the U.S. unveil an expansive agenda for bilateral defence engagement.

The Union Cabinet clears the Protection from Domestic Violence Bill, 2001.

Dec. 5:

The Centre declares the PWG and the Maoist Communist Centre ``terrorist organisations'' under the POTO and bans them.

India and Kenya sign an MoU on institutionalising of framework of cooperation and collaboration in the communication sector.

The new rule on `automatic suspension' of MPs entering the Well of the House to protest, comes into effect.

Dec. 6:

The acting CBI Director, Mr. P.C. Sharma, is appointed the full-time chief.

The Supreme Court makes fastening of seat belts mandatory for front seat occupants in cars.

Dec. 7:

The Irish civil rights activist and Nobel laureate, Mr. John Hume is nominated for this year's Gandhi Peace Prize.

The 20-month-old Mawlong Government in Meghalaya is voted out of power after the Assembly adopts a no-confidence motion.

The Tatas pull out of the bid for Air India bringing to a standstill disinvestment in the civil aviation sector.

The second phase of Tehri Dam construction begins and water enters Tehri township.

Dec. 8:

Dr. Flinder Anderson Khonglam, leader of the People's Forum of Meghalaya, is sworn in the Chief Minister, the third since the 1998 polls.

Dec. 10:

The Supreme Court upholds BALCO disinvestment.

The Government finalises a milder POTO limiting its operations to three years from five years.

Dec. 11:

`Kargil was an excuse to push through procurement' and defence contracts negotiated in a slipshod manner, says the CAG report triggering a furore in Parliament. Financial impropriety in purchase of coffins.

The Law Commission Chairman, Mr. Justice B.P. Jeevan Reddy quits citing personal reasons.

The ADB clears loans worth $ 410 millions to India to improve roads and other infrastructure.

Ms. Asha Bhosle, is presented the Dada Saheb Phalke Award at the 48th National Film Awards function, in New Delhi.

Dec. 13:

A suicide squad storms Parliament . In the ensuing 30-minute gun battle, five militants are killed and six security personnel also perish.

Dec. 14:

Lashkar-e-Taiba behind attack on Parliament, says the External Affairs Minister, Mr. Jaswant Singh. India delivers demarche to Pakistan. The U.S. offers FBI help in probe.

Dec. 15:

India cannot be cowed down by terrorism and the attackers on Parliament were beyond the pale of humanity, says the Prime Minister, Mr. A.B. Vajpayee, delivering the convocation address at the Viswabharati.

The Union Commerce Minister, Mr. Murasoli Maran launches India's first trade portal, tradeportalindia.com.

J and K police arrest Mohammad Afzal, one of the masterminds of the Parliament attack in Baramulla. Fidayeen squad led by one of the hijackers of the IA plane from Kathmandu to Kandahar in 1999, he reveals.

Dec. 16:

Jaish-e-Mohammad and Lashkar carried out attack with ISI guidance and initial plan to target Delhi Airport, says the Delhi Police Commissioner, Mr. Ajai Raj Sharma.

Dec. 21:

India recalls Envoy to Pakistan, and terminates bus, train services, effective Jan 2002.

Events 2001