Various political parties, including the BJP and the Congress, on Saturday welcomed Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa’s conviction by a Bangalore special court in the disproportionate assets case and urged the police to maintain law and order.
“The BJP respects today’s verdict convicting Jayalalithaa. The verdict disqualifies her from continuing as CM & hence she should resign,” said BJP general secretary P Muralidhar Rao in his tweet.He said the law & order is the State Government’s responsibility and “any incidence of violence in Tamil Nadu will be a lapse of the State Government.”
However, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh refused to comment on the conviction of Jayalalithaa in an 18-year old disproportionate asset case.“I will not comment on it as I have not seen the judgement,” he told PTI here when asked to comment on the conviction of Jayalalithaa.The Congress remained guarded in its comments on the conviction and sentencing of Jayalalithaa saying it respects the judicial process and it is now up to the AIADMK to give an appropriate response.
“India has a rule of law and the courts take cognisance of all matters which is required to be looked into... As political parties we respect the judiciary and decisions,” Congress spokesperson Anand Sharma said.However, he said one will have to bear in mind that the processes have to be completed. Sharma said this is a judicial process and the Congress has taken note of what happened.
“The rest of course is for the AIADMK to give an appropriate response,” he said.Tamil Nadu Congress Committee president BS Gnanadesikan appealed that violence should be eschewed and urged the State police to uphold law and order. “The police have a duty to protect the law and order and I believe that police will do their duty,” he said in a statement here.
Stating that violent incidents would affect the common people, Gnanadesikan said “violence should be eschewed.” Commenting on the verdict against Jayalalithaa he said, “full details pertaining to the judgement has not come. There should not be criticism of the verdict.”
Welcoming the verdict, PMK founder leader Dr S Ramadoss said police should take steps to ensure that the law and order is protected and violence should be checked. It showed that justice had prevailed, he said.MDMK leader Vaiko said the judgement has reaffirmed the supremacy of judiciary. Jayalalithaa was on Saturday convicted and sentenced to four years jail in an 18-year-old corruption case in a judgement.
CPI said the conviction and sentencing of the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister to four year imprisonment would have “far-reaching” implications in the State and national politics, though there was no threat to the AIADMK Government as it enjoyed a majority. “Though she cannot remain the Chief Minister and cannot contest elections, there is no threat to the Government as the AIADMK has the majority. But this will have far-reaching implications on Tamil Nadu politics as well as that of the nation,” party National Secretary D Raja said here.