J&K MLA Engineer Rashid Beaten Up By BJP Lawmakers For Hosting Beef Party | News World India

Independent Legislator Er Rashid serving beef ‘Kebabs’ during the beef party in Srinagar

Jammu and Kashmir assembly was in uproar again on Thursday morning as several BJP MLAs beat up Independent MLA Sheikh Abdul Rashid, known as Engineer Rashid, for hosting a beef party on Wednesday.

Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed has condemned the assault saying, “You cannot manhandle an MLA.

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“I don’t approve of what has happened, but the way he organised the beef party at the MLA hostel was not right,” said Deputy chief minister Nirmal Singh of the BJP, which partners the Mufti’s People’s Democratic Party or PDP in governing Jammu and Kashmir.

The entire Opposition walked out in protest. “They are killing people in broad daylight and if our members had not saved Engineer Rashid they would have killed him inside the house,” alleged an angry Omar Abdullah of the National Conference.

Independent Jammu and Kashmir legislator MLA Sheikh Abdul Rashid on Wednesday hosted a beef party here in defiance of the High Court order directing implementation of provisions to ban beef and said that no courts or legislature can prevent the people from eating what they want.

The legislator from Langate hosted the party in the lawns of MLA hostel here, with the guests being served beef kebabs, ‘ristas’ (meat balls) and beef patties.

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Rashid claimed that he did not want to offend anyone but wanted to send a message that “no courts or legislature can prevent the people from eating what they want”.

He anticipated that a private member bill brought in the Assembly to counter the HC order would be “buried” tomorrow in the House.

His step was “just to give them (legislators) a clear message that it hardly makes any difference whether you accept or reject the bill… religious matters cannot be kept subservient to courts and assembly,” the MLA said.

“Nobody on earth, no assembly, no court and no institution can stop us from having what we want to have,” he added.

ALSO READ: Beef Ban Issue Creates Divide Between PDP & BJP

The beef row erupted after a division bench of High Court in Jammu directed the state to strictly implement the ban in the state as per the law.

The order evoked strong resentment from various quarters with many separatist and religious organisations terming it as “interference in religious affairs” and sought revocation of the law, besides pressing for implementation of ban on liquor in the state.

The issue is now before the Supreme Court.

(With PTI inputs)