J & K govt. welcomes SC order on beef ban

The government on Monday welcomed the Supreme Court decision to suspend the order of Jammu wing of J&K High Court on beef ban.

State Education Minister Naeem Akhtar, also a government spokesman, on Monday said, “The order of the apex court has come as a relief for the government.” “The urgency created by order of the Jammu wing of HC had caused anguish in the state, but it is gone now. The SC ruling should lower the tempers in the state,” Mr. Akhtar said.

He stressed that there was a need for evolving a consensus on the matter in the legislature.

“We have to carefully tread this path and not do anything that creates bad feelings among the citizens of the state. Even with absolute majorities, previous governments couldn't do much to change the status quo on issues where sensibilities of the people of the state are involved,” he said.

The Minister said the government will wait for the constitution of the larger bench and “then take a call on the future course.”

“A sensible and cool deliberation is needed on the issue by involving all the stakeholders,” he said.