| | 1 | ''''1996: Key Events''' |
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| | 3 | * The Lok Sabha election takes place, with the BJP emerging as India’s single largest party, but short of a majority. |
| | 4 | |
| | 5 | * A.B. Vajpayee’s government collapses after 13 days, and is replaced by a multi-party coalition under H.D. Deve Gowda. |
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| | 7 | * The Michael Jackson show is organised in Bombay by Shiv Sena leader Raj Thackeray. |
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| | 9 | * In a year dominated by political corruption, the ‘Jain Hawala’ case involves alleged kickbacks by a businessman to several Cabinet Ministers and other noted politicians, former Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao is indicted in the ‘St Kitts forgery’ case and former telecommuni- cations minister Sukh Ram’s house is raided by the CBI which finds Rs 3 crore in cash and jewellery. |
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| | 11 | * The Port Blair station of Doordarshan is inaugurated. |
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| | 13 | * Shyam Benegal’s Making of the Mahatma is released in India and South Africa. |
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| | 15 | * N.T. Rama Rao dies. |