Rao says sadhus and saints stabbed him in the back. He blames Congress colleagues, arguing that they led him up the path to demolition and chaos. But his defence doesn’t wash.

With his prime ministerial powers, he could have removed the BJP sarkar in Uttar Pradesh, imposed Emergency powers in Ayodhya, where the destruction took place, mobilised Central troops to protect the monument. He did nothing.

By 1994, with inflation peaking at 12 percent, Rao’s reforms were dead in the water. He bided time, lost the polls and became a pariah in his party. Ironically, the BJP worships him now for ‘allowing’ the Babri demolition to take place.

A man is judged by his actions and its effects on others. Despite his linguistic and manipulative abilities, the overall verdict on Rao can’t be positive.

(This article was first published on 28 June 2015. It is being reposted from The Quint’s archives to mark PV Narasimha Rao’s birth anniversary.)