Major Events (1975-1990)

Major Events (1975-1990)

1975

February

24 Syed Mir Qasim tendered resignation to facilitate handing over power to Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah; State Congress Legislative Party expressed confidence in Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah who was invited to form government.

25 Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah took over as Chief Minister with 3 Cabinet Ministers, M. A. Beg, D.D.Thakur, Sonam Narboo.

March

13 Parliament approved Indira- Sheikh Accord.

June

29 Emergency declared in J&K in line with rest of the country.

July

5 Plebiscite Front dissolved.

October

13 Four member Co-ordination Committee set up to ensure smooth implementation of Indira-Sheikh Accord.

1976

February

16 Old age pension scheme for destitutes announced.

April

10 Route Permit System for goods carriers abolished. ‘A’ Class Passenger Service on 

Jammu-Srinagar Highway nationalised; Government Transport Undertaking conver- ted into 

Road Transport Corporation.

13 Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah elected President of revived National Conference.

May

25 10% jobs reserved for women in Government service.

October

14 Single Line Administration for all districts announced.

December

8 The first cabinet meeting held at Doda under Single Line Administration.

15 Foundation Stone of New Jammu University Complex laid.

24 Superfast train between Jammu and Bombay inaugurated.

1977

February

10 State Assembly extended its life from 5 to 6 years.

March

25 Congress withdrew support to Sheikh Government.

26 State Assembly dissolved; Governor’s rule proclaimed for the first time.

April

26 Janata Party unit launched in J&K with Maulana Masoodi as its convenor.

June

25 Prime Minister Morarji Desai arrived in Srinagar.

30 Assembly polls held; massive victory for National Conference.

July

8 Governor invited Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah to form new Government.

9 Six-member Sheikh ministry sworn-in.

September

23 Chief Minister announced that he was against confrontation with the Centre.

October

19 State Government announced decision to withdraw food subsidy in phases.

November

6 Public Safety Ordinance promulgated.

1978

April

8 Governor assented to Agrarian Reforms(Amendment) Act abolishing absentee land- lordism.

27 Abhinav Theatre Complex inaugurated at Jammu.

June

1 Steps taken to bring D.A of Government employees at-par with Central D.A. rates.

August

30 New variety of early maturing rice evolved in Kashmir by crossing China paddy with an international variety.

September

25 Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah sought resignation from Mirza Afzal Beg; Beg resigned.

29 National Conference expelled M.A. Beg from the party.

October

7 World Bank President Robert Mc-Namara arrived in Srinagar.

19 Civic polls in Srinagar, Anantnag and Baramulla held, National Conference swept the polls.

November

1 Separate Flood Control Department created.

1979

January

14 Indian Airlines Service to Leh inaugurated.

June

20 Sikri Commission, instituted to look into alleged regional imbalances, started functioning.

August

29 Chief Minister laid foundation stone of Apple grading and cold storage complex at Zakoora, Srinagar.

September

26 Anti Defection Bill adopted by the State Assembly.

1980

August

23 Government promulgated ordinance amending R.P.C. and Cr. P.C. to provide deterrent punishment for communal offences.

25 Sikri Commission on regional imbalances submitted its report to the Government.

October

9 Legislative Assembly building at Srinagar gutted in a devastating fire.

1981

February

19 President Neelam Sanjeeva Reddy inaugurated Tawi bridge at Sidhra and 20 kilometre long Jammu-Nagrota bye- pass on Jammu-Srinagar National Highway.

22 B. K. Nehru succeeded L. K. Jha as Governor.

March

1 Census puts State population at 59,87,389 with a decadal increase of 29.69 per cent. Dr. Farooq Abdullah elected President of National Conference.

August

26 325 metre long Tawi bridge inaugurated by the Chief Minister, Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah.

1982

April

9 J&K became first State to link all Police Stations with wireless.

June

11 Former Deputy Chief Minister, Mirza Afzal Beg passed away.

August

22 National Conference President, Dr. Farooq Abdullah inducted in Sheikh Cabinet as Health Minister in the State Government.

September

8 Sher-i-Kashmir Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah passed away; unprecedented scene of mourning witnessed in Kashmir; over a million joined the funeral; Dr. Farooq Abdullah sworn -in as Chief Minister.

11 Dr. Farooq Abdullah unanimously elected leader of the National Conference Legislature party.

14 11- member Council of Ministers assumed office.

1983

April

14 Prime Minister, Mrs Indira Gandhi laid foundation stone of Jammu- Udhampur Rail link project.

18 Assembly dissolved on the recommendations of Chief Minister to pave way for fresh Assembly elections.

June

5 Polling held for 76 Assembly constituencies.

11 Dr. Farooq Abdullah re-elected leader of National Conference Legislative party after massive electoral victory.

12 New Farooq ministry sworn-in.

August

4 Supreme Court upheld validity of Agrarian Reforms Act 1976 with certain modifications.

24 First ever Trans- Himalayan Motor Expedition at world’s highest motorable pass, Khardungla, Ladakh flagged off.

October

3 3-day National Opposition Conclave convened by Dr. Farooq Abdullah at Srinagar, top national leaders participated.

1984

April

26 Jagmohan took over as Governor of J&K.

July

2 Farooq Government dismissed; G M Shah sworn-in as Chief Minister with support of Congress-I.

1985

January

1 Forest nationalisation became effective.

April

State’s seventh Five Year Plan launched with Rs 1400 crore outlay.

May

31 Historic Gole Garh Palace complex in Old Secretariat, Jammu gutted in a fire.

1986

March

6 Congress(I) withdrew support to G.M. Shah Government; Government dismissed, Assembly kept under suspended animation; Governor rule imposed in the State.

September

7 President’s rule under Article 356 imposed for the first time in the State after expiry of six months of Governor’s rule.

November

7 President’s rule revoked after Rajiv-Farooq Accord; National Conference(F)-Cong.(I) alliance Government took over the reins of administration.

December

6 Prime Minister, Rajiv Gandhi arrived in Srinagar; Package of Rs 1,000 crore announced.

1987

February

2 State was put on ISTD, connected with several countries.

March

3 State’s first Eye Bank inaugurated in Jammu.

23 NC(F) and Cong-I alliance returned to power. NC(F) bagged 39 seats and Congress(I) 24 seats in mid term poll.

26 Coalition ministry headed by Dr. Farooq Abdullah sworn- in.

May

11 Hangul declared State animal.

July

7 Age old octroi duty abolished.

November

9 345-MW Salal Hydro Electric Project completed trial run.

27 Former Finance Minister and M.P G.L. Dogra passed away.

1988

January

3 Heli-skiing introduced in Kashmir.

18 Mir Waiz Maulvi Farooq said that he was against confrontation with the Centre and wished peace and growth of democracy in State.

26 Siachen hero-Bana Singh awarded PVC, country’s highest gallantry award.

February

4 Assembly seats increased from 76 to 87.

9 Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi dedicated to the nation Rs 583 crore Salal Hydel Project Phase I, comprising 3 units of 115 Mws.

11 State Power Dev. Corporation signed Letter of Intent with BHEL for installation of 3 Gas Turbines of 25 MWs capacity each in Kashmir.

13 Mr. P. Namgyal, the first Ladakhi, inducted into the Union Council of Ministers.

July

13 National Conference celebrated the Golden Jubilee of its existence.

August

1 Initial signs of militancy, two bombs exploded at Srinagar Club and Central Telegraph Office; JKLF claimed responsibility ; A Petrol pump near Polo Ground looted.

September

1 Bomb blast in a TRC passenger bus in Anantnag killing two persons.

3 A parcel bomb found in the General Post Office.

18 Militants attacked residence of DIG Kashmir, AM Watali. One militant killed in encounter.

21 Kalashinkov rifles recovered from arrested militants who said they received training from across the border.

October

12 JKLF plan to foment trouble in the Valley unearthed.

13 Prime Minister, Mr. Rajiv Gandhi made aerial survey of the flood affected areas in the State.

15 Prime Minister announced Rs. 53 crore package for Kashmir.

27 Bomb blasts and firing by militants in different parts of Srinagar; city engulfed with fear.

November

5 President, R. Venktaraman opened 17th Jawahar Lal Nehru National Science Exhibition at Jammu.

1989

January

7 Pak trained terrorist gang smashed by police; Two chief motivators and organisers arrested.

June

14 Hizb-e-Islam slapped restrictions on Muslim women in Kashmir, asked them to observe ‘Pardah’.

August

8 JKLF issued ultimatum to National Conference workers to quit the party within a month; violence erupted in Leh as Buddhist Action Committee went on rampage for the demand for Union Territory Status.

21 National Conference Block President, Mohammed Yousuf gunned down by militants in interior Srinagar city.

September

14 State BJP Vice-President, Tika Lal Taploo gunned down by militants.

October

7 Ladakh granted Scheduled Tribes status.

November

14 Former Sessions Judge, Neel Kant Ganjoo killed by militants, JKLF claimed responsibility of the killing.

December

8 Union Home Minister, Mufti Mohammed Syed’s daughter, Rubia Syed, abducted by militants.

13 Five militants freed in exchange of Rubia Syed’s release.

1990

January

1 Cinema owners in the valley closed down their theatres in the wake of militant threat.

16 Governor, K.V. Krishna Rao, resigned.

19 Jagmohan re-appointed as Governor; Dr Farooq Abdullah resigned in protest; Governor Rule imposed and State Assembly kept in suspended animation.

25 JKLF militnats gunned down 4 IAF men near Rawalpora, Srinagar.

February

13 Director Doordarshan Srinagar, Lassa Koul, killed by militants.

19 State Assembly dissolved by Governor, Jagmohan.

 

March

1 Assistant Director of Information, P.N. Handoo, gunned down by militants.

8 An All Party delegation led by Dy. Prime Minister, Devi Lal, arrived in Srinagar to assess the situation.

12 George Fernandes appointed Minister for Kashmir Affairs.

23 CPI Leader, Abdur Sttar Ranjoor, gunned down by militants.

24 Independent MLA, Mir Mustafa abducted by militants.

25 Mir Mustafa’s body found near Batamaloo.

30 Self styled Chief Commander of JKLF, Ashfaq Wani, killed by security forces.

April

6 Vice Chancellor, Kashmir University, Musheer-ul-Haq, his private secretary, Abdul Gani and General Manager, HMT, Srinagar H.L.Khera abducted by militants. They were later killed.

17 Jamat-i-Islami, Hizb-ul-Mujahideen, People’s League, Islamic Jamat-i-Tulba, Islamic Students League banned.

May

21 Mirwaiz Molvi Farooq gunned down by militants at his residence.

25 Governor Jagmohan resigns.

26 Girish Chander Saxena took over as new Governor.

July

18 Kashmir Valley declared disturbed area.

August

6 Kingpins of JKLF arrested from Barzulla.

October

14 Islamia College building set ablaze by militants destroying thousands of books besides valuable and rare manuscripts.