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ShareNew Delhi: Anupam Gupta, Counsel for the Commission of Inquiry that went into the Babri Masjid demolition, has said that BJP leader LK Advani is the "Achilles heel"of justice MS Liberhan and "inputs" suggest that the former deputy prime minister does not not seem to be among those "individually indicted".
It was apparent that he (justice Liberhan) wanted to "extricate" Advani from the imbroglio of the demolition, Gupta said in an interview to Outlook magazine.
Gupta, who dissociated himself from the Commission more than two years ago following differences with justice MS Liberhan on his approach to Advani, told Outlook magazine that "based on my decade-long association with Justice Liberhan, I am convinced that Advani is his Achilles heel.
"This, I would vouch for, regardless of what the report might actually say about Advani."
He said the real test of justice Liberhan's report would be his analysis of LK Advani's role and responsibility in the demolition of the Babri Masjid.
"Initial media reports and other inputs suggest that while other leading lights of the Sangh parivar have been individually indicted, Advani does not not seem to be among them," he said.
Justice Liberhan had earlier this week submitted his four-volume report onBabri demolition to the government 17 years after it was set up.
The report may be tabled in Parliament along with an Action Taken Report in the current session but government has six months for the purpose.
Gupta said even after Advani finished his deposition before the Commission, the BJP leader figured in his discussions with the judge.
"Advani's role remained a vital issue in my discussions with the judge through the proceedings of the Commission. For all his disclaimers and denials, it was apparent to me that he wanted to extricate Advani from the imbroglio of the Babri demolition."
"In fact, a rough draft of the report that he once showed me virtually complimented Advani at several places. This confirmed my worst apprehensions."
He said that he first realised the judge was going soft on Advani when he was initially "reluctant" to even summon him.
"It took some effort on my part to get him to sign the (summons) order.Then, throughout Advani's examination, which stretched over 10 months, the judge betrayed an uneasiness whenever he saw me trying to corner Advani."
"The flash point came on June 13, 2001, when an otherwise controlled Advani lost his temper on being questioned about Nehru's attitude towards the renovation of the Somnath temple. Late that night, an agitated justice Liberhan called me and asked me to apologise to Advani the next day in court. Appalled at the idea, I refused and told
him would rather resign."
