National Events In 2007

National Events ‐ 2007    January 2007 Jan. 1

Tamil Nadu switches over to the value-added tax regime.

Jan. 3

Sensex crosses the 14000-mark for the first time.

Jan. 4

Railways sign agreements with 14 private parties to handle container transport operations, hitherto the monopoly of Concor. INS Shardul, a landing warship is dedicated to the Nation at a function in Karwar.

Jan. 5

Fortyeight Biharis are killed in serial attacks by the ULFA in Assam’s Tinsukia, Dibrugarh and Dhemaji districts.

Jan. 7

Get involved in the “great adventure” of building an India free from the fear of war, want and exploitation, the Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, tells diaspora at the Fifth Pravasi Bharatiya Divas in New Delhi. Nine Biharis are killed in Upper Assam’s Dibrugarh and Sivasagar districts.

Jan. 8

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Biharis flee Assam even as the ULFA kills three more persons, two at Barpathar in upper Assam’s Golaghat district and one at Duliajan in Dibrugarh district.

Stray incidents mark West Bengal bandh to protest against the death of six persons in violence at Nandigram in Purbo Medinipur district on January 6 and 7.

Jan. 10 India’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C7) is successfully launched from Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh and places in orbit four satellites, one of them being the Space Capsule Recovery Experiment.

The Supreme Court upholds the expulsion of 11 MPs in December 2005 for their role in the cashfor-query scam.

The CBI takes over probe into the Nithari serial killings.

Jan. 11 A nine-judge Supreme Court Bench holds there can be no blanket immunity from judicial review of laws inserted in the Ninth Schedule of the Constitution.

India and Portugal sign an extradition treaty after talks between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and the visiting President Anibal Antonio Cavaco Silva in New Delhi. Jan. 12 The Supreme Court upholds the death sentence awarded to Mohammad Afzal in the December 13, 2001 Parliament attack case. Jan. 14 Justice Konakuppakattil Gopinathan Balakrishnan is sworn in the 37th Chief Justice of India succeeding Justice Y.K. Sabharwal. Jan. 17 With the right approach, governments and business can prove to society the benefits of a more integrated world economy, says the Portuguese President, Anibal Antonio Cavaco Silva, at the inauguration of Indian Industry partnership Summit 2007 in Bangalore. Jan. 19 The 1,450 MW Sardar Sarovar Narmada Dam hydroelectric project is dedicated to the nation at the damsite in Kevadiya Colony of Gujarat’s Narmada district.

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National Events ‐ 2007    The former Intelligence Bureau Chief E.S.L. Narasimhan is appointed Chhattisgarh Governor. Senior Congress leader K.Sankaranarayanan to be Nagaland Governor. Jan. 21 Tata Motors begins work on its car making plant in Singur, West Bengal. Jan. 23 The Supreme Court stays the conviction and three year sentence awarded to cricketer Navjot Singh Sidhu in a 1988 road rage death case. Jan. 25 India and Russia sign a memorandum of intent “to add four units to the nuclear power plant” under construction at Koodankulam in Tamil Nadu after Manmohan Singh-Putin talks in New Delhi. Fali Nariman and Khushwant Singh are among 10 eminent persons conferred the Padma Vibhushan award. Sunil Mittal and Indra Nooyi among Padma Bhushan awardees. Vikram Seth, Teesta Setalvad and Koneru Humpy prominent among Padma Shri awardees. Jan. 26 The Nation celebrates its 58th Republic Day. Jan. 30 Air Marshal Fali H.Major is appointed new IAF Chief.

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Jan. 31 Nobel Laureate Desmond Tutu of South Africa is presented with the Gandhi Peace Prize 2005 by the President, A.P.J. Abdul Kalam in New Delhi.

February 2007 Feb. 4

Supersonic cruise missile BrahMos with an advanced capability of sharp manoeuvring is successfully test-fired from the Integrated Test Range at Chandipur-on-Sea in Orissa.

Feb. 5

The Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal gives its final award after proceedings which went on for more than 16 years. Apportions 419 tmcft for Tamil Nadu.

Sensex touches an all-time high of 14515.90 points and Nifty reaches 4219 points following sustained FII inflows. Feb. 7

The new Master Plan for Delhi-2021 is notified by the Union Urban Development Ministry. It allows commercial and mixed land use on 2,183 roads.

Human rights activist Wangari M. Maathai of Kenya and Brazilian President, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva are chosen for the Jawaharlal Nehru Award for International Understanding for 2005 and 2006. Feb. 8

S. Rangarajan (70), Chairman of Kasturi and Sons Limited proprietors of The Hindu group of publications dies after a prolonged battle against cardiac disease at his Chennai residence. Eighty per cent polling is recorded in first phase of Manipur Assembly polls. India and Bhutan sign a new friendship treaty.

Feb. 12 Karnataka observes a bandh against the final award of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal. Feb. 13 Sixtyfive per cent voting is recorded in Punjab Assembly polls. Feb. 14 Union Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting M. H. Ambareesh quits Cabinet and Lok Sabha in protest against the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal’s final award. The second phase of Manipur Assembly polls is held peacefully.

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National Events ‐ 2007    Feb. 15 All but two of the 30 persons accused in the Dharmapuri burning case on Febrauary 2, 2000 in which three TNAU girl students were burnt alive are found guilty by a sessions court in Salem, Tamil Nadu. Feb. 16 A sessions court in Salem awards death sentence to three AIADMK activists for causing the death of three students at Ilakkiampatti in February 2000. Feb. 17 The Thar Express service between Munabao in Rajasthan’s Barmer district and Khokhrapar in Pakistan’s Sindh province is resumed after six months. Feb. 18 Sixty seven people, mostly Pakistani civilians, are killed as the New Delhi-Wagah Samjhauta Express is firebombed near Panipat in Haryana. Feb. 19 The Supreme Court stays the death sentence awarded to Santosh Kumar Singh for the 1996 murder of Priyadarsini Mattoo. The Delhi High Court upholds death penalty to Sushil Sharma in the Naina Sahani Murder case.

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Feb. 21 The Election Commission announces a seven-phase Assembly election schedule for Uttar Pradesh beginning on April 7 and ending on May 8.

India and Pakistan sign an agreement on reducing nuclear risk in New Delhi. Initialled in November 2006, it comes into force with immediate effect.

Feb. 23 The Supreme Court reiterates the Mandal Commission’s ruling on exclusion of the ‘creamy layer’ from enjoying the quota benefits. K.K. Narendran Committee report is set aside. Eightyfive per cent polling is recorded in the third phase of Manipur Assembly polls. Feb. 24 The Bahujan Samaj Party MLAs resign en masse from the Uttar Pradesh Assembly. Feb. 27 The Congress loses power in Punjab and Uttarakhand; retains power in Manipur following the declaration of Assembly poll results.

March 2007 Mar. 1

The Union Cabinet clears the merger of Air India and Indian.

The Union Cabinet approves the re-introduction of The Communal Violence (Prevention, Control and Rehabilitation) Bill. Mar. 2

Parkash Singh Badal is sworn in Punjab Chief Minister. Ibobi Singh who has the distinction of being Manipur’s first Chief Minister to complete a full term is sworn in for a second consecutive term.

Mar. 4

Jharkand Mukti Morcha MP Sunil Kumar Mahato (38) is shot dead by naxalites at Bakuria village in East Singhbhum district.

Mar. 5

Indian stock markets close deep in the red and the Sensex loses 471.09 points on sustained pullout by foreign institutional investors.

Mar. 8

Major General (Retd.) Bhuwan Chandra Khanduri is sworn in Uttarakhand Chief Minister, in Dehra Dun.

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National Events ‐ 2007    The Lok Sabha passes the Sports Broadcasting Signals Bill, 2007 making it mandatory for private broadcasters to share the live feed of national sports events with DD and AIR on free-to-air basis. Mar. 9

The Rajya Sabha gives its nod to the Signals Bill. The West Bengal Government signs a 90-year deal with Tata Motors for the small car project at Singur in Hooghly district.

Mar. 10 D.D. Lapang is sworn in Meghalaya Chief Minister after J.D. Rymbai quits post. Mar. 13 The Madras High Court suspends jail terms for 25 persons in the Dharmapuri bus-burning case. Mar. 14 Eleven persons are killed in police firing on a violent crowd in the strife-torn Nandigram area in West Bengal’s Purbo Medinipur district. Mar. 19 The Lok Sabha approves the Taxation Laws (Amendment) Bill to phase out Central Sales Tax by March 31, 2010. Mar. 20 The Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Bill, 2007 is tabled in the Lok Sabha.

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The IAF bids adieu to the MiG – 23 MF aircraft which played a key role for the past 25 years in the Western sector.

Mar. 22 The Union Cabinet approves a Rs. 106.57 crore relief and rehabilitation package for victims of the 2002 Gujarat communal riots.

The CBI files the first charge sheet in the Nithari serial killings case against businessman Moninder Singh Pandher, his servant Surinder Koli and the former Nithari police post in charge Simranjeet Kaur.

The Jawaharlal Nehru Award for International Understanding – 2005 is conferred on Kenyan Nobel laureate Wangari Muta Maathai by the President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, in New Delhi. Sensex regains the 13000-mark.

Mar. 23 A U.P. Sessions court convicts all the eight accused in the murder of IOC official Shanmugham Manjunath on November 19, 2005.

The President, A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, presents the Padma awards to eminent personalities at a function at the Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi. Mar. 26 India and the UAE sign a pact for exchange of information between the stock exchange regulators after talks between the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and UAE Vice-President and Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Makhtoum. Mar. 29 The Supreme Court stays law providing for 27 per cent reservation for OBCs in central higher educational institutions for 2007-08. Mar. 31 Tamil Nadu observes a bandh in protest against the Supreme Court stay on reservation for OBCs. Madhukar Gupta takes over as the Union Home Secretary. Air Chief Marshal Fali Homi Major assumes office as IAF Chief.

 

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National Events ‐ 2007    April 2007 Apr. 1

Free exchange of media should not be undermined anymore, says the I & B Minister, Priyaranjan Dasmunsi inaugurating the SAARC Journalists Summit-III in New Delhi. N. Ram, Editor-in-Chief, The Hindu is elected Chairperson of the South Asia Media Commission at its founding conference.

Apr. 2

India moots that the SAARC nations adopt a legal assistance treaty to fight terror. The Andhra Pradesh Legislative Council is revived 20 years after being abolished by the then Chief Minister N.T. Rama Rao. The former CJI Rajendra Babu takes over as the National Human Rights Commission Chairperson. Sensex crashes by 617.73 points in the second biggest single-day fall for the index ever. Tata group’s $12 billion takeover of Anglo-Dutch Steel giant Corus Group Plc. comes into effect.

Apr. 3

India will allow duty-free access for goods from Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Nepal, Maldives and Bhutan before year-end, says the Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh at the inaugural of the 14th

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SAARC summit in New Delhi.

Afghanistan joins SAARC as the regional grouping’s eighth member. Observers from China, Japan, the U.S. South Korea and the E.U. attend for the first time. Apr. 4

Pacts on setting up a South Asian University in India and forming a regional food bank are signed on the final day of the SAARC summit.

The SAARC declaration stresses the need to develop a road map for a South Asian Customs Union and a South Asian Economic Union. Iran accorded "observer status.” Apr. 5

The Centre limits extent of special economic zones to 5,000 hectares and keeps out State Governments from the land acquisition process.

Muslims in Uttar Pradesh could no longer be treated a religious minority rules the Allahabad High Court.

The Tamil Nadu Government decides to accord separate reservation for Muslims and Christians in employment and educational institutions. Apr. 7

Forty six per cent polling is recorded in first phase of the seven-phase Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections covering 62 constituencies spread across 13 districts.

Apr. 8

A Division Bench of the Allahabad High Court stays order on status of Muslims in U.P.

Apr. 9

Arunachal Pradesh Power Minister, Dorjee Khandu is sworn in Chief Minister following the resignation of Gegong Apang.

Apr. 10

Agriculture scientist M.S. Swaminathan and writer Kapila Vatsyayan are nominated to the Rajya Sabha. Jet Airways acquires Air Sahara in a Rs.1,450 crore deal.

Apr. 12

Nuclear capable long-range ballistic missile Agni-III is successfully testfired at Wheeler Island off the coast of Orissa. April. 13: Around 46 per cent polling is recorded in the second phase of the Uttar Pradesh elections in 58 constituencies spread across 10 districts.

Haja Peer Mohamed H [[email protected]]   

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National Events ‐ 2007    Apr. 16

India and Belarus sign an extradition treaty.

Apr. 18

The second prototype of Saras, India’s first indigenously designed commercial civilian aircraft makes its maiden flight in Bangalore. Fiftyone per cent polling is recorded in the third phase of U.P. Assembly election. The BJP MP from Dahod in Gujarat, Babu Bhai Katara is arrested for alleged human trafficking at the Delhi airport.

Apr. 20

Jet Airways pays Rs. 400 crore to acquire all shares of Sahara Airlines Ltd. and closes the Rs.1450 crore takeover deal. Bollywood actors Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai are married at the Bachchan residence in Juhu, Mumbai.

Apr. 23

The Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle PSLV-C8 blasts off from Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh and places in orbit Agile, an Italian satellite, the first commercial launch by the ISRO.

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Fortysix per cent polling is recorded in the fourth phase of the U.P. Assembly polls. Apr. 24

Three Police officers are arrested for killing Sohrabuddin Sheikh and Tulsi Ram Prajapati. Sensex crosses 14000 mark.

Apr. 25

India joins an elite club of 12 countries with a trillion dollar economy.

Apr. 27

The Madras High Court upholds the Common Entrance Test abolition.

The Government appoints a four-member Commission on Centre-State relations headed by the former Chief Justice of India M.M. Punchhi.

The Centre allows U.K. based Vodafone to take control of Hutch – Essar Ltd. Apr. 28

Fortysix per cent polling is registered in the fifth phase of the U.P. Assembly of polls.

Apr. 30

The Gujarat Government admits in the Supreme Court to the killing of Kausar Bi wife of Sohrabuddin Sheikh in Illol in Sabarkantha district a few days after his death in a fake encounter. Bollywood legend Dilip Kumar is conferred the Phalke Ratna Award.

May 2007 May. 3

Fortyfive per cent voting is recorded in the sixth phase of U.P. Assembly elections.

May. 5

The Empowered Committee on VAT announces the setting up of a working group to draw the roadmap for the introduction of Goods and Services Tax by April 1, 2010.

May. 6

The world’s largest passenger aircraft Airbus A380 makes its maiden landing in India at the Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi.

May. 9

Three persons are killed in attacks on the offices of Tamil daily Dinakaran and the Sun TV Network in Madurai following the publication of results of a survey.

May. 10 The nation commemorates the 150th anniversary of the first War of Independence of 1857 at a joint session of Parliament. The Central Government exits the Maruti Udyog Ltd., the country’s largest car manufacturer.

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National Events ‐ 2007    May. 11 The Bahujan Samaj Party led by Mayawati wins 205 of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly’s 403 seats emerging as the single largest Party. May. 12 The legislative career of Chief Minister, M. Karunanidhi is a shining example of commitment to people, says the Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee at a function in the Tamil Nadu Assembly. May. 13 The Union Information Technology and Communications Minister, Dayanidhi Maran resigns after the DMK decides to seek his removal from the Cabinet. Mayawati is sworn in Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister heading a 49-member Ministry. May. 15 A. Raja is appointed the new Union Communications and IT Minister. May. 16 Put down ragging with an iron hand, the apex court tells educational institutions while accepting the bulk of the R. K. Raghavan committee suggestions. Andimuthu Raja takes office as IT Minister.

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May. 17 The Supreme Court upholds the Madras High Court ruling on abolition of Common Entrance Test for admission to professional courses in Tamil Nadu.

The Supreme Court approves the recommendations of the Rajinder Sachar Committee on Muslims.

The Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh is re-elected unopposed to the Rajya Sabha from Assam for the fourth consecutive term.

May. 18 Nine persons are killed and 50 injured after a powerful blast rips through a congregation at the historic Mecca Masjid near Charminar in Hyderabad. Five others are killed in police firing. V. Radhika Selvi is sworn in Union Minister of State for Home. May. 19 The CBI takes over probe into Dinakaran attack case.

May. 21 India and Mexico sign a 10-year bilateral investment promotion and protection agreement. May. 23 Assamese social activist Rabindra Nath Upadhyay is presented with the National Communal Harmony Award 2006. May. 24 The Union Cabinet approves a bill to provide social security to workers in the unorganised sector. May. 25 Sunil Bharti Mittal takes over as the Confederation of Indian Industry President. May. 26 The CPI(M) politburo suspends Kerala Chief Minister, V. S. Achuthanandan and Pinarayi Vijayan, State Secretary of the party from the primary membership. Hi-tech multi-purpose national identity cards with unique identification numbers are launched in New Delhi. May. 28 A. R. Lakshmanan, former Supreme Court Judge assumes charge as Chairman of the 18th Law Commission. May. 29 Thirteen persons are killed in violence at several places in Rajasthan following a stir by the Gujjars seeking inclusion among Scheduled Tribes.

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National Events ‐ 2007    The Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, announces a Rs. 25,000-crore scheme to incentivise States to invest more in the farm sector at the 53rd meeting of the National Development Council in New Delhi.

  June 2007 Jun. 1

Four persons are killed in Lalsot in Rajasthan’s Dausa district following clashes between Gujjars and Meenas taking the toll in violence and police firing to 24.

Jun. 2

Seventytwo per cent polling is recorded in Goa Assembly elections.

Jun. 4

The Gujjars call off the six-day-old agitation in Rajasthan seeking Scheduled Tribes status. The President, A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, presents the Jawaharlal Nehru Award for International Understanding 2006 to his Brazilian counterpart Luiz Inacio Lula Da Silva in New Delhi. India and Brazil sign protocols for cooperation in the oil sector, space after Manmohan Singh-

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Lula talks. A ‘Red Fort Declaration’ is issued. Jun. 5

The Congress-Nationalist Congress Party alliance emerges as the largest combination winning 19 seats in the 40-member Goa Assembly, after a fractured verdict in the polls.

Jun. 8

Digambar V. Kamat is sworn in the Chief Minister of Goa.

Jun. 13

Ramachandra Gandhi (70), grandson of Mahatma Gandhi is found dead in a guest room at the India International Centre in New Delhi.

Jun. 14

The Congress and the Left parties name the Rajasthan Governor Pratibha Devisingh Patil as their Presidential candidate.

Jun. 18

A new political front comprising major regional parties named United National Progressive Alliance is floated at a function in Chennai.

Fourteen persons are convicted for the massacre of 116 people during the 1989 Bhagalpur riots. Jun. 21

The Army inducts BrahMos supersonic missile, the first one to have a land-attack version and which can fly at a velocity of one km a second, at a function in New Delhi.

Jun. 22

A top Maoist leader and the brain behind the ‘Alipiri attack’ on former Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu, Sande Rajamouli is killed in an encounter in Dharmavaram in Anantapur district, Andhra Pradesh.

Jun. 23

Pratibha Patil files papers as the UPA-Left candidate in the presidential poll.

Jun. 25

The Vice-President, Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, files papers as an independent backed by the NDA for the July 19 presidential polls. Hindustan Lever gets Centre’s nod to change its name to Hindustan Unilever Ltd.

Jun. 27

The Punjab Government orders arrest of the Dera Sacha Sauda head Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh charged with denigrating Guru Gobind Singh. Sikh head priests say apology “unacceptable”.

Jun. 29

The Prime Minister Manmohan Singh calls for evolving national quality standards for statistics

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National Events ‐ 2007    after inaugurating the first ‘Statistics Day’ celebrations in New Delhi. Jun. 30

The former Delhi Chief Minister and senior BJP leader Sahib Singh Verma is killed in a road accident in Rajasthan’s Alwar district.

    July 2007 Jul. 3

Jamnagar district in Gujarat receives a record rainfall of over 450 mm in the last three days. Torrential rains continue to lash Kolkata. R.S. Sharma is formally appointed ONGC Chairman and Managing Director after having been at the helm for 13 months and will hold the post till 2011.

Jul. 4

Duvvuri Subbarao takes charge as the Union Finance Secretary.

Jul. 6

Sensex breaches the 15,000 mark with IT shares dominating the market.

Jul. 8

The former Prime Minister and Samajwadi Janata Party president, Chandra Shekhar (80), dies at

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the Apollo Hospital, New Delhi of cancer. Jul. 12

The Madras High Court strikes down provisions of the Tamil Nadu Professional Educational Institutions Act mandating surrender of seats by unaided professional colleges.

Jul. 13

The Bombay Stock Exchange’s Sensex touches 15272.72 and the NSE’s Nifty closes at 4504.55. GAIL (India) Ltd. delivers first gas consignment to the Dabhol Power Plant in Maharashtra. This is also the plant’s first such allocation since it began operations in May 1999.

Jul. 16

The Gujarat CID files a 713 page chargesheet against 13 police officials in the Sohrabuddin Sheikh fake encounter case.

Jul. 17

India, Brazil and South Africa decide to undertake trilateral cooperation in civilian nuclear field.

Jul. 19

About 88.5 per cent of parlimentarians and 91 per cent of legislators cast votes in the 13th Presidential election.

Jul. 20

The Union Commerce Minister, Kamal Nath, launches the e-filing of patent and trademark applications at a function in New Delhi.

Jul. 21

Pratibha Devisingh Patil is declared elected the 12th President defeating the Vice-President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat. Bhairon Singh Shekhawat resigns as Vice-President. The first “jumbo machine-readable passport” is released by the Minister of State for External Affairs, E. Ahamed, in Bangalore.

Jul. 22

Shiv Kumar alias Dadua often referred to as “Veerappan of North India” is gunned by the U.P. police in Ahleua jungles in Chitrakoot district.

Jul. 24

Preserve rich treasures of culture even while pursuing economic growth, says the President, A.P.J.Abdul Kalam, in his ‘thanksgiving address to the nation” on his last day in office.

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National Events ‐ 2007    Jul. 25

Pratibha Patil is sworn in President becoming in the process the first woman to occupy the highest office in the nation. The Union Cabinet approves the text of the ‘123’ civilian nuclear cooperation agreement arrived at between the U.S. and Indian negotiators in Washington.

Jul. 26

Lt. Gen. Deepak Kapoor is appointed the next Chief of the Army Staff. Kanimozhi and Tiruchi N. Siva and the CPI National Secretary D. Raja take oath as Rajya Sabha members.

Jul. 27

Yakub Memon, brother of Tiger Memon the prime plotter in the 1993 Mumbai blasts is awarded death sentence, his brothers Essa and Yusuf and sister-in-law Rubeena are awarded life imprisonment by the special TADA court. A special court in Chandigarh convicts six persons for assassinating the then Punjab Chief Minister Beant Singh on August 31, 1995 in the Punjab Civil Secretariat.

Jul. 28

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Maninder Pal Singh Kohli accused in British teenager Hannah Foster murder in March 2003 is handed over to the British police.

Jul. 29

Mohammed Haneef reaches home after a 27-day ordeal in Australia.

Jul. 30

The Goa Chief Minister, Digambar Kamat, wins the floor test in Assembly by a voice vote.

Jul. 31

Film actor Sanjay Dutt is jailed for six years in the 1993 Mumbai blasts for illegal possession of a prohibited weapon.

A special court in Chandigarh awards death sentence to Jagtar Singh Hawara and Balwant Singh for the assassination of Beant Singh. Three others are awarded life term.

   

August 2007 Aug. 1

Al-Umma founder S.A. Basha and 152 others are found guilty in the February 14, 1998 Coimbatore serial blasts case. Abdul Nasser Maudhany, founder of the Kerala-based People’s Democratic Party and seven others are acquitted.

Aug. 3

India makes public the civil nuclear cooperation agreement with the U.S. India launches first ever scientific expedition to the Arctic region.

Aug. 4

The country’s first mobile court is inaugurated in Mewat district of Haryana by the Chief Justice of India, K.G. Balakrishnan.

Aug. 7

Buddhadeb Dasgupta’s Kaalpurush bags the Best Feature Film Award at the National Film Awards for 2005.

Aug. 8

Shyam Benegal film director is named recipient of the Dadasaheb Phalke Award 2005. Mauritius Prime Minister Navinchandra Rangoolam, cricket legend Kapil Dev and actor Shilpa Shetty are among those selected for the 2007 Rajiv Gandhi awards.

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National Events ‐ 2007    Aug. 9

The Madras High Court stays appeals by Novartis pending before the Intellectual Property Appellate Board.

Aug. 10 Mohammad Hamid Ansari is elected the 13th Vice-President. Militants kill 16 Hindi-speaking persons in Dolamara village of Central Assam’s Karbi Anglong district. Aug. 11 Mohammad Hamid Ansari is sworn in Vice-President at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi. The Tamil Nadu Government decides to set up a separate agency to provide cable network service. Aug. 12 Four Hindi-speaking persons are among six killed in Assam’s Karbi Anglong district in the continuing spiral of violence. The toll in attacks since August 8 goes up to 28. Rameswaram in Tamil Nadu is put on the Indian Railways’ broad gauge network. Aug. 13 The exercise of redrawing the boundaries of the Lok Sabha and Assembly constituencies in Tamil Nadu is completed.

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The Vice-President, Mohammad Hamid Ansari, takes charge as the Rajya Sabha Chairman. Aug. 14 Parliament adopts the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order (Amendment) Bill 2007. Aug. 15 The nation celebrates its 60th Independence Day.

Aug. 16 The weaponised version of HAL’s Advanced Light Helicopter project Dhruv makes its maiden flight in Bangalore.

Sensex loses 642.70 points, the biggest single day fall since May 18, 2006, following a global meltdown triggered by the U.S. sub-prime (home) mortgage market crunch.

Aug. 19 The former Uttarakhand Chief Minister, N. D. Tiwari, is appointed Andhra Pradesh Governor in place of Rameshwar Thakur shifted to Karnataka.

IAF pilots Wing Commander Anil Kumar and Rahul Monga create a world record by flying a microlight aircraft around the world in 80 days.

Aug. 20 Hem Dutta, social activist from Assam is honoured with the Rajiv Gandhi National Sadbhavana Award at a function in New Delhi. The Supreme Court grants interim bail to actor Sanjay Dutt. Aug. 21 The Japanese Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe, launches the India-Japan Partnership forum floated by the FICCI in New Delhi. Parliament proceedings are hit following an uproar over the remarks of India’s envoy to the U.S. Ronen Sen likening MPs to “headless chicken” in the context of the civilian nuclear deal. Aug. 22 The Delhi High Court acquits former Union Minister and JMM chief, Shibu Soren and four others in the 1994 Shashinath Jha murder case. Aug. 23 Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt leaves Yerawada jail in Pune after being granted interim bail by the Supreme Court.

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National Events ‐ 2007    Aug. 24 The Corporate Affairs Ministry clears Air India-Indian merger. The new company National Aviation Company of India Limited becomes a legal entity. Forty persons are killed as two blasts, one at an amusement park and another at an eatery rock Hyderabad. Aug. 27 Tata Steel turns 100. Aug. 28 The Government floats a tender Request for Proposals worth Rs. 42,000 crore for purchase of 126 fighter aircraft. The Department of Posts launches a full-fledged domestic freighter service for the first time in the counrty, in Guwahati. Aug. 30 Milan Lalitkumar Naidu is named the new Vice-Chief of the Army Staff.

  September 2007 Sep. 2

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The Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle, GSLV FO4 is successfully launched from the Sriharikota spaceport in Andhra Pradesh and places in orbit the 2,130 kg INSAT – 4 CR, the heaviest satellite to be launched by the ISRO.

Sep. 4

The five-nation “Malabar” exercise, the largest ever multi-nation drill, involving naval personnel of Australia, India, Japan, Singapore and the U.S. starts in the Bay of Bengal.

Sep. 6

The Bombay High Court sentences to three-year RI Alistair Pereira who killed seven persons in a hit and run accident on the night of November 12, 2006 on Carter Road at Bandra in Mumbai.

Sep. 7

The former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, N. Janardhana Reddy, and his wife N. Rajyalakshmi, Minister for Women Development and Child Welfare escape a bid on life in a landmine blast at Vidyanagar near Nellore district.

The Supreme Court grants interim bail to four of the family members of Tiger Memon convicted in the 1993 Mumbai blasts case. Sep. 10

The Government introduces in the Rajya Sabha The Unorganised Sector Workers’ Social Security Bill, 2007. India and Mexico sign an extradition treaty.

Sep. 11

The Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, calls for a paradigm shift in dealing with water management inaugurating the first ever National Congress on Groundwater, in New Delhi. Popatrao Pawar of Hewre village in Maharashtra becomes the first winner of “National Water Award”.

Sep. 13

The Tamil Nadu Government announces a seven per cent quota for Muslims and Christians in education and employment. The Delhi High Court upholds the death sentence to Lashkar-e-Taiba militant Mohd. Arif alias Ashfaq in the December 22, 2000 Red Fort attack case. Six others are freed.

Haja Peer Mohamed H [[email protected]]   

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National Events ‐ 2007    Sep. 14

Veteran filmmaker Shyam Benegal is honoured with the Dadasaheb Phalke Award for 2005 at the 53rd National Film Awards – 2006 ceremony in New Delhi.

Sep. 17

The Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi announces bifurcation of Surat district to create an all – tribal district.

Sep. 19

Sensex crosses the 16000 mark, up by 653.63 points, in the biggest single day gain.

Sep. 20

The rupee surges to a nine-year high closing at 39.88/89 against the dollar.

Sep. 21

The former Union Minister, V.C. Shukla, rejoins the Congress.

Sep. 22

Dara Singh is sentenced to life for the killing of a priest on September 1, 1999 in Orissa’s Mayurbhanj district. The BJP decides to amend party constitution to give 33 per cent reservation for women.

Sep. 24

The first Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians’ Conference opens in New Delhi. Kashmala Tariq of Pakistan is elected Commonwealth Women’s Parliament Chairperson.

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Rahul Gandhi is appointed Congress general secretary and inducted into the CWC. He has been given charge of the Youth Congress and the N SUI. Sep. 25

Rahul Gandhi takes charge as Congress general secretary.

Sep. 26

Sensex breaches the 17000 mark in volatile trading led by banking and IT stocks.

Sep. 28

The Union Government extends the National Rural Environment Guarantee Act to all the districts in the country.

The 22nd Indira Gandhi Award for National Integration for 2006 is jointly awarded to J.S. Bandukwala and Ram Puniyani.

Chief of the Army Staff General J.J. Singh hands over the baton of Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee to the Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Sureesh Mehta. Sep. 30

The Supreme Court restrains the DMK and its allies from going ahead with the October 1 bandh in support of the Sethusamudram project.

General Deepak Kapoor takes over as the 23rd Chief of the Army Staff from General J.J. Singh at a ceremony in New Delhi.

October 2007 Oct. 1

The DMK-led Democratic Progressive Alliance members observe a day-long fast in Tamil Nadu pressing for speedy implementation of the Sethusamudram Project. The Union Cabinet gives its nod for the creation of an autonomous Gorkha Hill Council under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution in Darjeeling district of West Bengal. The Kerala Chief Minister, V. S. Achuthanandan and State CPI(M) Secretary Pinarayi Vijayan are back in the politbureau.

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National Events ‐ 2007    Oct. 2

Seventeen BJP Ministers in the H. D. Kumaraswamy Cabinet in Karnataka quit in protest against the Janata Dal (S) failure to honour the power sharing pact. The Gujarat Government launches a new all-tribal district named Tapi bifurcating Surat district with headquarters at Vyara.

Oct. 3

The Patna District and Sessions Court awards death sentence to former MP and Janata Dal (United) leader Anand Mohan for the lynching of a magistrate on December 5, 1994 in Muzaffarpur district. His wife Lovely Anand gets a lifer.

Oct. 4

The Karnataka Chief Minister, H. D. Kumaraswamy, decides to face a floor test to prove his majority in the Assembly.

Oct. 5

Surface-to-surface missile Agni-1 is launched successfully from Outer Wheel island off the Orissa coast.

Oct. 6

The BJP decides to withdraw support to the H. D. Kumaraswamy Government in Karnataka.

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The Finance Minister, P. Chidambaram, launches the National Investment Fund. Oct. 7

The BJP withdraws support to the Karnataka Government bringing to an end the 20-month coalition with the Janata Dal (Secular).

Oct. 8

The Karnataka Chief Minister, H. D. Kumaraswamy, resigns.

Oct. 9

Sensex Zooms past the 18000 mark with the largest single day gain of 788.85 points. President’s rule is imposed in Karnataka and the Assembly is kept under “suspended animation”.

Oct. 10

The Election Commission announces two phase polls in Gujarat (December 11 and 16) and Himachal Pradesh (November 14, December 19).

Oct. 11

Two persons are killed and 17 injured after a bomb rips through the dargah of the Sufi saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chisthi in Ajmer, Rajasthan.

The Union Cabinet approves a National Policy on Rehabilitation and Resettlement, 2007, providing for the allotment of land in return for land and amendments to the Land Acquisition Act, 1894. Sensex reaches 18814.07 points completing the last 1000 point journey in just two days. Oct. 15

Sensex crosses the 19000 mark led by metal stocks.

Oct. 16

The Calcutta High Court orders a CBI probe into the death of Rizwanur Rahman, a computer graphics teacher whose body was found near a rail track near Kolkata on September 21. Yashpal Mittal, Dr. Anand Karve, Ms. Ashoka Gupta and Prof. Michael Nagler are chosen to receive the Jamnalal Bajaj Awards for 2007.

Oct. 18

The Stock markets witness the biggest single day fall as the Sensex loses 717.43 points. The National Stock Exchange’s 50-share Nifty sees 500-point swing.

Oct. 22

Actor Sanjay Dutt is sent back to Yerawada Jail in Pune after being handed over the 4,340-page judgment copy. He has been sentenced to six years RI under the Arms Act.

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National Events ‐ 2007    The Tamil Nadu Assembly passes Bill providing for quota in employment and education to Backward Class Christians and Muslims. Oct. 24

A special court sentences the former Uttar Pradesh Minister, Amarmani Tripathi and his wife Madhumani to life imprisonment in the murder of poetess Madhumita Shukla in Lucknow on May 9, 2003. Al Umma founder S. A. Basha and general secretary Mohammed Ansari among 31 persons sentenced to lifer in the Coimbatore serial blasts on February 14, 1998. Basha’s son Siddiq Ali is awarded two life terms and 48 years RI.

Oct. 25

The indigenous fly-by-wire Light Combat Aircraft test-fires for the first time a close combat missile after take off from INS Hansa, the naval air station in Vasco, Goa. The Supreme Court orders compulsory registration of marriages of all religions across the country.

Oct. 26

Sensex closes at a new peak of 19243.17 points after the SEBI allows more overseas investors to enter the bourses.

Oct. 27

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Naxalites gun down Anup Marandi, son of former Jharkhand Chief Minister, Babulal Marandi and 17 others at Chikhadia village of Giridih district.

The Janata Dal (Secular) offers unconditional support to the BJP in Government formation in Karnataka. Oct. 29

The Union Government announces the setting up of a National Land Reforms Council with Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh as its Chairman.

Sensex crosses the 20,000 mark and India becomes the 20th nation in the world whose stock market benchmark has touched the milestone. Oct. 30

The Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh and the Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany Angela Merkel flag off “Science Express” to showcase scientific advances.

Sensex snaps its six-day winning streak and settles at 19783.51 after scaling a new peak of 20238 earlier in the day on alternate buying and selling across sectors. Oct. 31

Ram Puniyani and Juzar Salehbhai Bandukwalla are awarded the Indira Gandhi Award for National Integration for their work after the 1993 Mumbai riots and the Gujarat carnage of 2002.

  November 2007 Nov. 2

Ashish Dey (50), the co-owner of a leading shoe company is gunned down by motorcycle-borne assailants in Sakchin area of Jamshedpur. India’s Ambassador to the U.S. Ronen Sen offers an unconditional apology to the Rajya Sabha Privileges Committee for his “headless chickens” comment related to the nuclear deal. He appeared before the Lok Sabha Privileges Committee on October 29.

Nov. 5

The Tamil Nadu Government decides to develop a land bank of 10,000 acres to provide space for industrial parks.

Haja Peer Mohamed H [[email protected]]   

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National Events ‐ 2007    Narrow political considerations can distort national vision, says the Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, delivering the inaugural address at the 4th International Conference on Federalism in New Delhi. Nov. 6

Four persons are killed in a landmine blast in Nandigram in West Bengal. The first India-Africa Hydrocarbons Conference opens in New Delhi.

Nov. 7

After a 27-hour surgery Lakshmi Tatma (2), the “eight-limbed” girl from Araria village in Bihar is separated from her parasitic twin by a 36-member team of doctors at a Bangalore hospital. The visiting Swiss President Micheline Calmy-Rey holds talks with President Pratibha Patil and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in New Delhi. The Tamil Nadu Cabinet approves the Rs. 9,757-crore 46.5 km metro rail project in Chennai.

Nov. 8

President’s rule is revoked in Karnataka. The Planning Commission approves the draft Eleventh Five Year Plan, which projects a nine per

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cent economic growth. Nov. 12

The BJP leader Bookanakere Siddalingappa Yeddyurappa is sworn in Karnataka Chief Minister. Samir K. Brahmachari takes over as CSIR Director-General.

Normal life is affected in Kolkata due to a strike in protest against the recent Nandigram incidents. Nov. 14

The former Finance Secretary Vijay L. Kelkar is named chairman of the 13th Finance Commission. Sensex registers its biggest one-day gain of 893.58 points to settle at 19929.06. Sixty per cent polling is recorded in the three tribal Assembly constituencies of Himachal Pradesh.

Nov. 15

The Justice K. N. Saikia Commission report indicts the former Assam Chief Minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta for the “extra-constitutional killings” of family members of ULFA cadre during 1998-2001. The ISRO successfully tests the indigenously developed cryogenic stage at Mahendranigiri in Tamil Nadu.

Nov. 16

The UPA-Left Committee on the India-U.S. Civil Nuclear Cooperation gives its nod for the Government to hold talks with the IAEA.

Nov. 19

The Karnataka Chief Minister, B. S. Yeddyurappa, resigns rather than face trust vote in the Assembly following coalition partner Janata Dal (S)’s decision to vote against the motion. The President, Pratibha Patil, presents the Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development to Nobel laureate Wangari M. Maathai in New Delhi. The Prime Minister Manmohan Singh launches the Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme in New Delhi.

Nov. 20

Sushil and Gopal Ansal owners of the Uphaar Cinema in Green Park, New Delhi, and 10 others are held guilty by a sessions court for the June 13, 1997 fire mishap that killed 59 people. President’s rule is imposed in Karnataka for the second time in over a month.

Haja Peer Mohamed H [[email protected]]   

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National Events ‐ 2007    Nov. 21

The Army moves into Kolkata to quell disturbances by demonstrators seeking cancellation of visa for the Bangladeshi writer Taslima Nasreen. Curfew imposed in some areas. Indian stock markets dip by 678 points ending the day at 18602.62.

Nov. 22

Bangladeshi writer Taslima Nasreen arrives in Jaipur, Rajasthan after having been escorted out of Kolkata by police. The Lok Sabha Privileges Committee says the Ronan Sen issue over the “headless chickens” remarks be treated as closed following the envoy’s apologies.

Nov. 23

At least 13 persons, including four lawyers are killed in simultaneous serial blasts in Lucknow, Faizabad and Varanasi courts in Uttar Pradesh. Sushil Ansal and Gopal Ansal owners of Uphaar cinema are sentenced to two years RI for the 1997 fire tragedy. Taslima Nasreen is shifted to New Delhi.

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Ariyalur becomes the 31st district of Tamil Nadu after being carved out of Perambalur. Nov. 24

One person is killed and 260 injured as violence breaks out during a rally in Guwahati by the All Adivasi Students Association of Assam demanding ST status for adivasis.

Nov. 25

Two persons are killed and 18 injured in four blasts in Assam.

The Kerala Law Commission headed by the former Supreme Court judge V. R. Krishna Iyer, becomes functional. Nov. 26

One person is killed as sporadic violence mars the All-Adivasi Students’ Association of Assamsponsored 36-hour Statewide bandh to protest attack on adivasis.

The Rajya Sabha Privileges Committee accepts Ronen Sen’s apology for his “headless chickens” remark.

Parliament approves imposition of President’s Rule in Karnataka. Nov. 27

The Supreme Court grants bail to actor Sanjay Dutt and 16 others sentenced to imprisonment by the Mumbai TADA court.

Nov. 28

Lok Sabha debates the India-United States civilian nuclear deal but fails to produce a “broad National consensus”. Karnataka Assembly is dissolved.

Nov. 29

Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt returns home after being freed on bail from Pune’s Yerawada jail.

Nov. 30

The Centre removes P. Venugopal as AIIMS Director.

  December 2007 Dec. 2

The former Haryana Chief Minister, Bhajan Lal, quits the Congress Party, and floats "Haryana Janhit Congress" at a rally in Rohtak.

Haja Peer Mohamed H [[email protected]]   

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National Events ‐ 2007    Parliament approves the Sahastra Seema Bal Bill 2007, giving armed forces status to the Central force. Dec. 3

The Supreme Court stays the execution of the death sentence awarded to the Lashkar-e-Taiba militant Mohammad Afshaq for the attack on the Red Fort on December 22, 2000. The Rajya Sabha gives its nod to the Indira Gandhi National Tribal University Bill 2007. Swami Atmasthananda is elected president of the Ramakrishna Math and Mission in Kolkata.

Dec. 6

India successfully test-fires a hypersonic Advanced Air Defence interceptor missile from Wheeler Island, off the Orissa coast. The Madras High Court confirms death sentence on three AIADMK members for the Dharmapuri bus burning incident on February 2, 2000 which led to the death of three TNAU students. The Central Government scraps a tender to import helicopters worth Rs. 17,000 crore as Eurocopter vitiates the selection process.

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Parliament nod for Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Bill, 2007. Dec. 8

The former Gujarat Chief Minister, Suresh Mehta, quits the BJP.

The Cambodian Prime Minster, Hun Sen, arrives in New Delhi on a four-day state visit. Dec. 9

India and Cambodia ink six agreements, including one on intensive ties between their state-owned oil majors.

Dec. 11

Sixty per cent polling is recorded in the first phase of the Gujarat Assembly elections. Abhishek Tyagi (14), a private school student of Gurgaon is shot dead by two of his classmates. Sensex scales new peak closing above the 20000 mark. The NSE Nifty crosses the 6000 mark.

Dec. 13

Five passengers of the Dibrugarh-Guwahati-Delhi Rajdhani Express are killed in a blast near the Chungajan railway station in Upper Assam’s Golaghat district.

Dec. 14

Sixteen persons are killed after a minibus rams the speeding Sutlej Express train at a manned railway crossing at Nuchur Chak village in Moga distrct, Punjab. Nellore district is to be named after Potti Sreeramulu.

Dec. 15

The first India-Russia-China trilateral business conference is held in New Delhi. Videsh Sanchar Nigam Limited is renamed Tata Communications Limited.

Dec. 16

Sixtyfour per cent polling is recorded in the second and final phase of Gujarat Assembly elections. Over 299 inmates of the Dantewada jail in Chhattisgarh escape after overpowering the guards.

Dec. 17

A Mumbai sessions court convicts Praveen Mahajan of killing his elder brother and BJP leader Pramod Mahajan. Vinod Rai to be the new Comptroller and Auditor General of India. Sensex plunges by 769.48 points, being the second highest single day fall. Nifty records its biggest-ever single day fall with a loss of 270.70 points.

Haja Peer Mohamed H [[email protected]]   

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National Events ‐ 2007    The Jas Raj Chopra Committee, which looked into Gujjars’ demand for inclusion in the Scheduled Tribes category, submits report to the Rajasthan Chief Minister, Vasundhara Raje. A top Maoist leader Malla Raji Reddy alias Sattenna is arrested in Kerala’s Ernakulam district. Dec. 18

Praveen Mahajan is sentenced to life imprisonment for the Pramod Mahajan killing. The trial in the July 11, 2005 Mumbai serial train blasts that claimed 187 lives begins at a special court. A Delhi court rejects the CBI’s closure report in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots case against Congress leader Jagdish Tytler.

Dec. 19

The National Development Council endorses the Eleventh Plan document. In a mega merger, private carriers Deccan and Kingfisher Airlines decide to create a single entity. Sixtyseven per cent polling is recorded in the second phase of Himachal Pradesh Assembly elections.

Dec. 23

The BJP sweeps the Gujarat Assembly polls.

Dec. 24

The Union Cabinet gives nod to amend the Indian Trusts Act.

Dec. 25

Narendra Modi is sworn in Gujarat Chief Minister for the third time in a row.

Dec. 27

Three persons are killed in police firing in Orissa’s communal violence-hit Kandhamal district.

Dec. 28

The BJP wins the Himachal Pradesh Assembly polls.

Dec. 30

Prem Kumar Dhumal is sworn in Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister.

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The former Kerala Chief Minister, K.Karunakaran, is back in the Congress.

The Trinamool Congress leader Mamta Banerjee launches Progressive Secular Democratic Front comprising 16 parties, in Kolkata.

 

Haja Peer Mohamed H [[email protected]]   

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