At least seven BJP MLAs on Thursday thrashed independent legislator Engineer Rashid inside the Assembly for organising a beef party on Wednesday evening.
The incident took place immediately after the Assembly met around 10 a.m. to discuss bills, with bills on beef ban listed for the day, though down the order. Mr. Rashid was saved by ruling People's Democratic Party and opposition National Conference legislators.
"They wanted to suffocate me," alleged Mr. Rashid, adding "NC MLAs rescued him".
Commenting on the incident, Chief Minister Mufti Muhammad Sayeed said, "Whatever happened in the Assembly is condemnable." He asked the BJP to apologise.
Former chief minister and leader of Opposition Omar Abdullah said the BJP MLAs attacked Rashid to kill. "It was done in the same way as in Dadri". He said Mr. Rashid did nothing "illegal" by organising the beef party as the Supreme Court has stayed the ban.
"If the Speaker does not take stringent action against BJP MLAs, he loses the moral right to be custodian of the House," said Mr. Abdullah.
Deputy Chief Minister Nimal Singh, a senior BJP leader, also condemned the thrashing. "Everybody has right to put forth his view point...whatever happened in MLA Hostel is condemnable," said Mr. Singh.
On Wednesday evening, Mr. Rashid served beef kebabs and meat balls to guests in a beef party organised by him at MLA Hostel. "The purpose of the get-together was to give a clear and louder message to legislatures, power corridors, judiciary and other institutions that nobody needs permission what to eat and what not and interference in religious affairs and fundamental rights would not be tolerated."
He said the event "by no means was organised to hurt anybody’s sentiments and infact it is stupid and unacceptable to see it from that angle."
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The beef ban law, which is in vogue since 1932, whipped controversy in the first week of September when a local court directed its strict enforcement in the Muslim-majority state. The direction evoked sharp reactions from most political parties, including separatists.
After two divergent opinions by local courts on the issue, the SC intervention was sought by the government. The SC has stayed the Jammu high court direction for two months.