This Article is From Jul 01, 2009

Liberhan report: What are Advani's options?

Liberhan report: What are Advani's options?
New Delhi:

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader, who is clearly trying hard to be the next leader of the party, Murli Manohar Joshi had a heated press conference on Wednesday. And when he was asked about his current leader Lal Krishna Advani's future options, Joshi found the questions getting a little too hot and walked out.

Joshi, one of the top accused in the Babri Masjid demolition case, refused to take questions.

Behind closed doors, the party, Advani and his parliamentary team, have discussed their strategy.

If in the Liberhan report, Advani and others top leaders are not charged with conspiracy to demolish the Babri Masjid, the BJP will attack the Congress for targeting its leaders. If the charges against Advani are serious, the BJP will say the demand for a Ram temple was a national movement, so why target individuals.

The BJP's main worry is the Babri report's impact on the ongoing war within. The pro-Hindutva lobby may try to scuttle those advocating a more contemporary Hindutva. Also a blame game may start if Advani gets off lightly, but his co-accused are indicted.

But much to the BJP's relief, charges against some other accused will not hurt the BJP. Uma Bharti isn't with the party any more, nor is Kalyan Singh, who failed to protect the Babri Masjid.

There is no one answer to why the BJP is not really worried over Liberhan, perhaps because it comes too late, perhaps because the party is trying to grow out of the backyard of history, or may be because the leaders charged in the case belong to a generation that is fading.

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