Srinagar: The legislative assembly of Jammu and Kashmir witnessed violence on October 8 when several members beat up an independent legislator.
The legislators belonging to the pro-Hindu Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) thrashed Sheikh Abdul Rashid, who had hosted a beef party the previous day.
State Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed condemned the assault.
Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh of the BJP said he disapproved what happened in the house, but “the way he organized the beef party at the MLA hostel was not right.”
BJP is a partner in the state’s coalition government led by Mufti’s People’s Democratic Party.
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.
Last week, a mob lynched a Muslim man in an Uttar Pradesh village over rumors that he had slaughtered a calf and eaten beef. The son of a local BJP leader is among those arrested for the man’s murder.
The incident caused nationwide outrage and has re-ignited a political debate over beef-eating, ndtv.com reported.
Rashid had hosted a party on the lawns of Srinagar’s MLA hostel on Wednesday, where guests were served beef dishes.
He explained that he meant to offend no one but just wanted to send out the message that “no courts or legislature can prevent the people from eating what they want.”
Jammu and Kashmir, India’s northernmost state with a Muslim majority population, witnessed protests after the state’s High Court ordered the strict implementation of a law that bans beef.
Separatists and religious organizations say the ban is an “interference in religious affairs” and has sought its revocation. The Supreme Court is now hearing the matter.