National Events in November 1997
2nd Nov
Gujral Government draws up balance-sheet showing substantial progress in almost all sectors of economy.
3rd Nov
India presents G-15 with agenda for a fair deal in Kuala Lumpur. India calls upon Group of 15 developing countries to ``build convergences among nations and encourage G-7 to pursue structured and issue-based dialogue with us''.
American Consulate-General in Chennai starts issuing visitor's visa with 10-year validity.
J.K. Seth Committee on Aviation Safety has recommended that the Director-General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) be reorganised and Aircraft Act rewritten.
Union Government plans to release 40 lakh new LPG gas connections as also 40 lakh double cylinder connections during current financial year.
4th Nov
Guddi, world's shortest woman standing just one metre above the ground, gives birth to 4th child.
Formal trial in Jharkhand Mukti Morcha MPs' bribery case begins. Star prosecution witness, Mr. Shailendra Mahto tells court that Mr. P. V. Narasimha Rao and Congress(I) president, Mr. Sitaram Kesri, requested him and other 3 JMM leaders to vote against the no-confidence motion faced by the Rao Government on July 28, 1993.
UNESCO has named 8 scientists laureates of the five 1997 science prizes for their contribution. Prof. Dorairajan Balasubramanian (58), Director of the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology of Hyderabad has been named Laureate of Kalinga prize - for popularisation of Science.
6th Nov
Chief Executives of public sector banks and Finance Minister, Mr. P. Chidambaram, after a meeting in New Delhi, decide to grant greater administrative autonomy to select public sector banks.
Supreme Court acquits Mr. Kalpanath Rai, former Union Minister for Power and Food held under TADA for alleged harbouring of an accused in ``1992 Bombay J.J. Hospital shootout case''.
7th Nov
RBI Governor, Dr. Chakravarti Rangarajan has been appointed new Governor of Andhra Pradesh. Dr. Bimal Jalan, Member-Secretary, Planning Commission, will take over as RBI Governor.
Central and State Security forces fan out to remote hill areas of Tripura's Dhalai district, where 21 people, including nine BSF jawans were killed by banned National Liberation Front of Tripura guerillas.
8th Nov
Designated Court-II acquits 15 of 17 accused in Padmanabha murder case including former DMK Minister, Mrs. Subbulakshmi Jagadeesan, former Home Secretary, Mr. R. Nagarajan, and Mr. V. Ravichandran, brother of MDMK leader, Mr. V. Gopalsami.
India Today publishes portions of interim report of Jain Commission. The panel indicts DMK for ``encouraging and assisting'' LTTE whose cadres have been blamed for murder of Rajiv Gandhi.
9th Nov
DMK on the defensive about disclosures by Mr. Justice M. C. Jain.
10th Nov
Nearly 80 activists of Samajwadi Party and 20 police personnel are injured in clashes during SP dharna to press for release of innocent persons detained under TADA in Uttar Pradesh.
12th Nov
India elected to executive board of UNESCO.
13th Nov
Rashtriya Janata Party Ministry in Gujarat survives vote of confidence with support of Congress(I) and some Independents.
14th Nov
Union Minister of State for Defence and president of TheHindu Office and National Press Employees Union from 1969, Mr. N. V. N. Somu, dies in Army Helicopter crash at Tezpur in Arunachal Pradesh.
10th International film festival for children and young people ambles into Hyderabad atop Gajju, the delightful elephant mascot - About 125 from 30 countries will be screened.
16th Nov
Sandalwood smuggler Veerappan offers to surrender.
Maharasthra Chief Minister, Manohar Joshi, presents Jamanlal Bajaj Awards. Dr. Young Seek Chove from South Korea given International Award for Promoting Gandhian values outside India. Mr. R. K. Patil receives award for outstanding constructive work. Award for application of science and technology for rural development goes to Prof. Katagihallimath.
17th Nov
Extremists of People's War Group blast landmines and open fire on a police team killing Deputy Superintendent, circle inspector, four constables and a civilian between Shivampet and Pillutla villages in Andhra Pradesh.
18th Nov
Ms. Puttaveeramma of Ishwatha Ashrama Vidyaranyapuram, Vishveshwara Nagar, Mysore, has been conferred `Rajiv Gandhi Manav Seva Award 1997' for life-long exemplary service to poor deserted women and in particular deaf and dumb girl children.
U.S. Secretary of State, Ms. Madeleine Albright, arrives in New Delhi. Ms. Albright says she raised `all-important issue of terrorism with Pakistan's top leadership'.
19th Nov
U.S. Secretary of State, Ms. Albright's talks with PM, Mr. Gujral, carries forward momentum of strategic dialogue initiated earlier at various levels.
Twentytwo persons killed and 30 injured when car bomb explodes outside film studio in Jubilee Hills area of Hyderabad. The deceased include Eanadu TV crew of six.
1996 Indira Gandhi prize for peace, disarmament and development presented to Medicins Sans Frontieres, non-government organisation, providing medical aid to the needy across the globe, by President, Mr. K. R. Narayanan, on the 80th birth anniversary of Indira Gandhi.
20th Nov
Interim report of Jain Commission tabled in Parliament. Report alleges nexus between DMK and LTTE. Congress (I) Working Committee gives party president, Mr. Sitaram Kesri, mandate to take up the issue of removing DMK ministers immediately. Otherwise Congress (I) says it would be difficult for it to support Government.
DMK president and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, Mr. M. Karunanidhi, dubs interim report of Jain Commission ``politically motivated'' and asserts that there was no valid reason for DMK ministers in Gujral Government to quit.
Palestinian leader Mr. Yasser Arafat arrives in New Delhi. India and Palestinian National Authority take stock of stalled West Asia peace process. Two sides sign first umbrella Memorandum of Understanding.
Combative Congress (I) pressing for DMK's ouster from U.F. Government does not allow Parliament to function after Jain Commission's report and Action Taken Report were tabled in two houses.
21st Nov
UF rejects Congress (I) demand for ouster of DMK ministers.
22nd Nov
Mr. Yasser Arafat, President, Palestinian National Authority, lays foundation stone for Indo-Arab cultural centre at Hyderabad.
23rd Nov
Mumbai-born Miss India, 24-year-old Ms. Diana Hayden, beat 85 contestants from around the world to be crowned new Miss World at ceremony at Mahe (Seychelles).
24th Nov
Gujral writes to Kesri suggesting possible dialogue between two sides, exploring possibility of way out of impasse, but categorically turns down demand for exclusion of DMK ministers.
Former RBI Governor Dr. C. Rangarajan sworn in Governor of Andhra Pradesh in Hyderabad.
25th Nov
Election Commission derecognises Janata Party and Congress (Tiwari) as national parties and derecognises Pattali Makkal Katchi in Tamil Nadu, J & K Panthers Party and J & K People's Conference in Jammu and Kashmir, Indian Congress (Socialist) in Kerala and Manipur and Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam in Tamil Nadu. Pattali Makkal Katchi will continue to be recognised as State party in Pondicherry.
26th Nov
Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, scientific advisor to Defence Minister, chosen for Bharat Ratna.
28th Nov
Seven-month-old U.F. Government headed by Prime Minister, Mr. Gujral, bows out of office.
30th Nov
BJP stakes tentative claim to form Government at the Centre during meeting with President, Mr. K. R. Narayanan.
Tension in Coimbatore as mobs go on rampage and even some policemen in mufti adopt belligerent posture following murder of constable on duty.