BJP tries to counter Laloo on Advani, ends up scoring self-goal

Later, the full text of the Time article was distributed to the press. While the ‘‘eyewitness’’ account of the demolition makes no mention of the BJP leaders, the main story on the build-up to December 6, 1992 is full of critical references to the party’s role:

• ‘‘The BJP bears the lion’s share of blame for the Ayodhya calamity. Over the past six years, the party and its parliamentary leader, L K Advani, have cynically used anti-Muslim feeling among Hindus to advance their political cause…’’

• ‘‘Advani escalated the campaign — and in increasingly dramatic fashion. In September 1990 he rode a giant saffron-coloured vehicle, designed to look like Rama’s chariot, to lead a 10,000 km procession across India in support of the movement to build the Hindu temple. Huge crowds of Hindu devotees gathered, often attacking Muslim neighborhoods; hundreds died.’’

• (On December 6) About 400 policemen under the control of the BJP government of Uttar Pradesh stood by and did nothing while the mob rampaged. Afterward Vinay Katiyar, the leader of the Bajrang Dal gang, exulted, ‘‘We have proved that the feelings of the people are above the law!’’ Proclaimed Uma Bharati, a BJP member of Parliament: ‘‘For centuries Hindus have waited for this moment.’’

Apart from the Time magazine article, the BJP also released a copy of an agency report dated March 7, 2002 that appeared in The Indian Express quoting then Pakistan High Commissioner Ashraf Jehangir Qazi on the controversy over Advani’s name on his country’s ‘‘wanted list.’’

To a question on Pakistani media reports that Islamabad was considering naming Advani in its wanted list for alleged involvement in an assassination attempt on Mohammad Ali Jinnah, Qazi was quoted as saying: ‘‘Pakistan has never taken the stand that there is such a case and it intends to take action on that basis.’’

The High Commissioner, however, said a retired Pakistani police officer had mentioned the case in his book but Islamabad had given ‘‘no indication’’ that Advani was in the list.

While the BJP’s aim at releasing the report was to rebut allegations on Advani’s ‘‘absconder’’ status, it managed to raise more questions on the little-known Jinnah murder attempt. And by releasing photocopies of the Time report, the BJP leadership has not only given more credence to Laloo but has also got embroiled in old controversies that had faded from public memory.