National Events in October 2000
Oct. 1:
The Communications Minister, Mr. Ram Vilas Paswan launches the Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited and it is to have total functional autonomy.
In the first conviction in mob killing of the Australian missionary, Graham Staines and his two sons, Chenchu a 13-year-old boy gets 14 years imprisonment.
Oct. 2:
The Russian President, Mr. Vladmir Putin arrives in New Delhi on a four-day State visit.
Oct. 3:
India and Russia sign a declaration on strategic partnership.
The Prime Minister, Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee buys peace with the Trinamool Congress Chief, Ms. Mamata Banerjee by agreeing to a partial rollback of the hike in prices of petroleum products.
Oct. 4:
``Kashmir has been the cause of tensions between India and Pakistan,'' ``foreign interference should be stopped,'' says the Russian President, Mr. Vladimir Putin at the join session of both the Houses of Parliament.
India and Russia sign a memorandum of understanding on intensifying bilateral cooperation in the peaceful use of atomic energy.
The CBI files charge-sheet in the `herbal fuel - Ramar Pillai case.'
Oct. 5:
Russia would like to see India participate in the CTBT but appreciated that it should be based on its strategic vision, national interests and needs of the people, says the Russian President, Mr. Vladimir Putin virtually endorsing India's stand on the Treaty.
Intruders skin alive Sakhi, an one-year-old tigress at the Nehru Zoological Park in Hyderabad. The A.P. Government orders CB CID inquiry and suspends four employees.
Oct. 6:
The Trinamool Congress chief, Ms. Mamata Banerjee withdraws her resignation from the Union Cabinet of Ministers.
Oct. 7:
WWF-India bags the first Rajiv Gandhi Wildlife Conservation Award.
Oct. 8:
Seven years after the serial blasts (on March 12, 1993) rocked the Mumbai metropolis killing 257 people and maiming 713 others, the marathon trial concludes.
Oct. 9:
A special court convicts the former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, Ms. Jayalalitha and her associate, Ms. Sasikala and sentences them to undergo three years and two years rigorous imprisonment in two `TANSI land deal' cases.
The CBI files chargesheet against the three NRI industrialist Hinduja brothers, Mr. Gopichand, Mr. Srichand and Mr. Prakash in the Rs. 64-crore Bofors payoffs case.
The Centre appoints Mr. Yogendra Narain as the new Defence Secretary and Mr. K. Sibal as a secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs while effecting a major bureaucratic reshuffle.
Oct. 10:
In a surprise initiative, the Tamil Nadu and Karnataka Governments depute Tamil nationalist and pro-LTTE leader, Mr. P. Nedumaran to secure the release of Mr. Rajkumar.
The United Cricket Board of South Africa imposes a life-ban on former captain Hansie Cronje.
Oct. 11:
The Centre decides to implement the recommendations of the First National Judicial Pay Commission report.
Oct. 12:
A Special Court sentences the former Prime Minister, Mr. P.V. Narasimha Rao, and his Home Minister, Mr. Buta Singh to undergo three years rigorous imprisonment, and pay a fine of Rs. 2 lakhs each in the `JMM MPs' bribery case'.
The Chinese dissident novelist and playwright, Mr. Gao Xingjian wins the Nobel prize in Literature.
Oct. 13:
The South Korean President, Mr. Kim Dae-Jung, wins the Nobel Peace Prize
Oct. 16:
The forest brigand Veerappan frees Kannada thespian Mr. Rajkumar's son-in-law, Mr. A. Govindaraj after holding him hostage for 78 days.
The Supreme Court stays Kerala High Court directive in the hartal case to the Election Commission.
Oct. 18:
The Supreme Court gives the nod for construction of the Sardar Sarovar Dam on the Narmada river.
The Union Communications Minister, Mr. Ram Vilas Paswan announces relief for phone users. New links to cost Rs. 2,000 in urban areas and Rs. 500 in rural areas.
The Information Technology Act, 2000 comes into force and the rules framed thereunder seek to usher in e-governance by permitting grant of licences by Government agencies and the filing of applications by electronic means.
Oct. 19:
The Government creates an electronic database of all the principal Central Acts from 1834 to 1996 of all India application.
Oct. 21:
The BJP withdraws support to the 11-month-old Francisco Sardinha Government in Goa reducing it to a minority and stakes claim to form a new government after nine Congressmen join the party.
At least 21 persons, including a woman die in two hooch tragedies in Kollam district (at Kalluvathuckal and Pallickal) of Kerala.
Oct. 22:
The Supreme Court in a significant order, erases a Karnataka High Court judgment discharging the former Chief Minister, Mr. S. Bangarappa and his then private secretary, Mr. R. Suribabu, in a corruption case.
Oct. 23:
The 116-year-old General Post Office in Chennai, heritage building in ruins after a devastating fire.
Oct. 24:
The BJP forms a coalition Government in Goa with Mr. Manohar Parrikar taking office as the Chief Minister.
Hyrunnisa, suspected to be the key accused in the Kollam liquor tragedy nabbed along with her husband and a worker in her `shop', in Guruvayur.
The Delhi High Court admits the appeal of the former Prime Minister, Mr. P. V. Narasimha Rao against the lower court judgment in the JMM MPs' bribery case.
Oct. 25:
The BJP Legislature Party in U.P. elects Mr. Rajnath Singh its leader.
The Kerala Cabinet orders a judicial enquiry into the liquor tragedies in Kollam district. The toll goes up to 32.
Oct. 27:
The Vajpayee Government `clears' the names of Mr. Surjit Singh Barnala, Mr. Prabhat Kumar and Mr. Dinanath Tiwari for appointment as the Governors of the new States of Uttaranchal, Jharkhand and Chhatisgarh.
Oct. 28:
The West Bengal Chief Minister, Mr. Jyoti Basu formally submits his resignation to the Governor, Mr. Viren J. Shah. Mr. Buddhadev Bhattacharya to take over as Mr. Basu's successor.
The Royal Canadian Mounted police arrest two Sikhs, Ripudaman Singh Malik (53) and Ajaib Singh Bagri (51), in Vancouver in connection with the downing of Air India Boeing 747 en route from Canada to London in 1985.
Mr. Rajnath Singh takes office as Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister; retains the Ram Prakash Gupta Ministry.
Oct. 29:
The senior Congress leader, Mr. Jitendra Prasada, files nomination papers for the party presidential polls, setting the stage for a contest against the incumbent, Ms. Sonia Gandhi.
Oct. 30:
The 160-page CBI's report on cricket match-fixing names Azharuddin, Ajay Jadeja, Ajay Sharma, Manoj Prabhakar and former physiotherapist, Dr. Ali Irani for their deep-rooted nexus with betting syndicates. It virtually gives a clean chit to Kapil Dev.
Oct. 31:
Chhattisgarh, the 26th State of Indian Union comes into existence with the swearing in of its Governor, Mr. Dinesh Nandan Sahay and Chief Minister, Mr. Ajit Jogi at a glittering function at Raipur
The Jammu and Kashmir Government accepts the Justice S. R. Pandian Commission report on the Barakpora police firing on April 3, suspends seven policemen and CRPF personnel, and also the report of the probe into the firing at Amaranth pilgrims on August 1.
The work on construction of the Rs. 18,000-crore Sardar Sarovar Project resumes after a gap of four years in Kevadiya, Narmada district.
The Government introduces Corporate Identity Number for every company registered on or after November 1.
The Income Tax Department `indicts' five cricketers - Kapil Dev, Ajay Jadeja, Manoj Prabhakar, Nikhil Chopra and Ajay Sharma - for tax evasion and concealment of income earned through ``dubious sources''.