SRINAGAR — Several BJP MLAs today assaulted Independent MLA Sheikh Abdul Rashid, right inside the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly, a day after he had hosted a beef party at the MLA hostel he stayed in. As BJP MLAs assaulted him, several NC and Congress MLAs rushed to save him.
BJP MLA Ravinder Raina beat Independent MLA Engineer Rashid up for hosting a beef party at MLA hostel yesterday. pic.twitter.com/C6luISCe7M
— ANI (@ANI_news) October 8, 2015
The legislator from Langate had yesterday hosted the beef party in the lawns of the MLA hostel, with guests being served beef kebabs, 'ristas' (meat balls) and beef patties.
Rashid had claimed that he did not want to offend anyone but wanted to send a message that "no courts or legislature can prevent people from eating what they want".
What BJP MLAs did was absolutely right, Engineer Rashid only understands this language-Ashoke Pandit,Activist pic.twitter.com/xo4rOEI066
— ANI (@ANI_news) October 8, 2015
The 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 had said.
"Nobody on earth, no assembly, no court and no institution can stop us from having what we want to have," he added.
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 had 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.
Also Read: Complete Mayhem In J&K Assembly As MLAs Climb Desk
Also Read: BJP Leader To Hold 'Beef Party' For 'Religious Tolerance'
Contact HuffPost India