Even as the mobile data services in this part of the region remained suspended, people logged on to social networking sites in huge numbers to hail the judiciary for convicting self-styled godman in 15-year-old rape case.
The sites also became a platform for the people, across the country, to train their guns at the politicians and the power-that-be.
Criticised often for its role, the social media virtually became the voice of the people with not only the common men, but also the who’s who, including politicians, giving a vent to their feelings on the verdict against Dera Sacha Sauda sect head Gurmeet ram Rahim Singh.
With the Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh, his Delhi counterpart Arvind Kejriwal, and the SAD president Sukhbir Badal taking on to Twitter to appeal to the masses to maintain peace, many others minced no words to attack the politician-religious leaders clout for “petty gains”.
Besides appealing for peace, Sukhbir also called upon his party cadre to assist the administration in controlling the situation. “I appeal to Punjabis to maintain communal harmony and brotherhood at all costs. SAD cadre should also assist in this task in the field,” tweeted Sukhbir hours after the verdict.
“I urge everyone to stay calm and maintain peace,” tweeted Kejriwal, national convener of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).
AAP MlA and the leader of Opposition in Punjab Vidhan Sabha Sukhpal Singh Khaira attacked the Chief Ministers of the two States—Punjab and Haryana—for their “failure” to contain the situation. “Today's violence a fallout of politicians greed for votes @ cost of human lives, shame on Khattar, Capt as weak Cms”.
Poet and AAP leader Dr Kumar Vishvas pointed at the “vote bank politics”. “fasal ki kimat, khet ke liye paani maangate anndaata kisano par goli aur Ram Rahim ke andh-bhakton ki khulleaam aagjani par khaamoshiIJ Vote kya na karaaye (Bullets to the farmers seeking price and water for their crop while silence on arson by blind follower of Ram RahimIJ Things people do for vote)” he tweeted.
In another tweet, Dr Vishvas dubbed Haryana Chief Minister Manohar lal Khattar and his Punjab counterpart Capt Amarinder as “voton ke saudagar” (dealers of votes) for throwing to the winds the “system”.
Former AAP leader and Swaraj Abhiyaan leader Yogendra Yadav also take on BJP-led Haryana Government for its “third” failure to contain law and order situation in the State, and asking it to either stop violence or leave the chair. “Haryana sarkaar se appeal: teen saal mein teesari baar rajya mein vayapak hinsa. Iss baar ya toh hinsa rokiye ya kursi chhodiye”, he tweeted.
Congress leader Shashi Tharoor expressed sadness over the violence. “Saddened by reports from Panchkula of violence over @Gurmeetramrahim. 13 people killed, 100+ vehicles destroyed, trains ablaze. What a shame!”
However, the verdict against the ‘Messenger of God’ was also hailed by the Twitteratti. “Judiciary did the job and conveyed a justice…Now the Neta must speak on their relationship with Criminals,” tweeted Raman SharmaIJ @sarvmanglamcom.
SKP KarunaIJ @skpkaruna tweeted, “Devil is outside! Still the judge is unmoved, undeterred, stayed strong & delivered the justice. Be Proud of our judiciary.”
Rayees BhatIJ @rayeesbhat7 attacked the powers-that-be. “loot burning and stone pelting by the protesters similar to that of protests in Kashmir…Then why aren't they terrorists”.