The Liberhan Commission’s report regarding the demolition of Babri Masjid has been submitted after 17 years. This report after so long may seem like a time bomb that fizzled out. If it was submitted at the time when L K Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi, Uma Bharati and other saffron figures were central ministers and the VHP brass was a powerful adjunct to the government then its contents might well have proved explosive.

This report of the Liberhan Commission may give the Congress some handy ammunition to target the BJP. Any adverse comments on the saffron leaders will be an embarrassment to the party, but it seems to feel that it can ride out the storm some 18 years after the demolition.

Of course the criticism of Advani will hurt the leader to the extent that he has tried hard to play down the hawkish aspects of his image and had also come across as a consensus-builder prepared to reach out to the leaders of Muslims and Christians.