... For the clarity, honesty and balance of the report, the whole country must thank Justice B.N. Srikrishna, a sitting judge of the Mumbai High Court, whose integrity and seriousness of purpose are beyond question ... (The) mainstream society will see a factually correct, logically consistent and essentially true account of the horror of those days. Therefore, long after today's politicians are forgotten, the report of the Commission will stand as the first authentic record of the period. Those who are wise will draw many useful lessons from it; and people in all walks of life as well as the media, police, and civil administration can benefit. Absorbing those lessons is vital to ensure they are never again turned into the playthings of politicians.

The conclusions tell the story. In the first phase, police mishandling of Muslim protest against the demolition of the Babari Masjid turned peaceful, unorganised demonstrations violent. Key reasons: bias in the police force against minorities and the lack of precautionary measures by the police and administration ... In the second phase, Shiv Sainiks commanded by Bal Thackeray attacked Muslims and their property with "military precision". Key reasons: political mobilisation on the basis of religion and the Shiv Sena doctrine of Hindu retaliation. The Congress government failed to act effectively. Key reason: Sudhakarrao. Naik's vacillation for political reasons, especially with regard to calling out the Army ... There was no evidence that the serial bomb blasts in March were part of a master plan ... They ... were a reaction to the "totality of events" at Ayodhya and Bombay in December and January ... There are administrative consequences however for a government ... to prosecute policemen and other individuals accused of wrongdoing. It is hard to deny the demands of natural justice. So, politically, Joshi may not be able to escape the impact ... At the very least the CM should discharge his responsibility for keeping the peace ...