Take no prisoners

Advani claims that Thakur was brutally interrogated — but the aggression on the anti-terrorism squad militates against his party’s previous call that judgements must not be made prematurely in investigations in terrorism cases. By reducing the battle against terrorism to a blind clash of communities and maligning our investigative agencies, the BJP displays confusion and opportunism. But Advani has sacrificed good sense and national interest to short-term ambition — painting himself into a corner if Thakur and Purohit are, in the end, proved to be guilty — and by smearing our law and order mechanisms as politically pliable, he could inflict deep injury on the credibility of these institutions.

L.K. Advani initially had the right instinct in the Pragya Thakur case when he said the law should take its course and when he distanced his party from the former ABVP leader. The BJP’s confusion on Malegaon comes at a piquant time, with general elections not far and all political parties looking to work out the strongest electoral alliances. Nitish Kumar, whose party has been a longstanding member of the BJP-led NDA, has already indicated his discomfort with the BJP’s position, and Naveen Patnaik’s BJD is also showing discomfort with the BJP’s position. As a prime ministerial candidate who will have to balance a diverse coalition, Advani cannot afford to inject partisan venom into matters of state.