The Congress today lauded the judiciary for proving that no one was above the Constitution and the law, after a CBI court sentenced Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh to 20 years in jail for raping two women.
The party hit out at the central government, accusing it of showing "mulish obstinacy" and arrogance by not sacking the Haryana government in the face of strictures by the high court after violence in Panchkula that left at least 36 people dead.
"With the Ram Rahim sentencing, the judiciary has proven that no one is above the Constitution and rule of law," the Congress said on its Twitter handle.
Party spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi welcomed the sentencing, saying he salutes the majesty of the law which has been upheld by the judiciary.
"We unconditionally welcome...With great respect, we salute how the majesty of the law has been upheld in the state irrespective of our division. We live in a constitutional republic governed by rule of law and it is delightful, heartening and proud.
"It is with pride that we see the vindication of the majesty of the law. It is not easy for high courts to function in such atmosphere. There is chaos and writing all around...I salute the third organ of State," he told reporters.
Asked specifically to comment on the sentencing of the Dera chief, he said, "I do not think, it is necessary at all to comment on the quantum of punishment."
He said the quantum of punishment need not be at all a subject matter of the party's comments, saying these are natural processes, consequences of conviction and it is entirely between the accused and the court which passes these orders.
"I do not think we are required to comment on it, but we have comments on far more important larger issues which impinge on the very fabric of our constitutional democracy," he said.
Coming down heavily on the BJP governments, both at the Centre and the state, the Congress leader said, "We have seen this callous insensitivity, which I would add, is coupled with mulish obstinacy in the face of most unprecedented strictures by the high court."
"In any responsible sensitive form of democratic governance, comments not strictures, of far less severity than we have heard in Haryana, would have led to apologies, resignations and complete unconditional acceptance. Here it has had the opposite effect," he said.
"That is the interesting part of it. Because of worldwide condemnation, because of high court's strictures, because of our comments calling for resignations, the reverse has happened; there is a hardening of positions. There is a digging in of heels. There is an increase of arrogance," he said.
Singhvi said the reaction is to the contrary as they have earned their continuance, not resignation, after Congress had asked for president's rule and resignation of the constitutional functionaries.
He claimed that the words of the High Court are "unprecedented, not in recent living history or memory, can I recall such clear categorical, unequivocal, unambiguous strictures roping in not only the CM but commenting on the PM himself".
"No chief minister and no prime minister in recent history has suffered the comments from a constitutional high functionary like the high court and yet kept silent, but more than silence, there is mulish obstinacy as I said coupled with arrogance of digging in your heels and not accepting fault, not resigning and not having president's rule," he claimed.
The Congress spokesperson also hit out at the BJP leaders for coming out in support of the Manohar Lal Khattar government and "hiding its failures".
He termed the statements of high functionaries of the BJP as unimaginable, callous and utterly, saying "They should be hung up on your walls to remind you of what these important personages enjoying the privilege of power had to say on this occasion".
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