Independent MLA assaulted in J&K Assembly for hosting beef party

SRINAGAR: In the back of controversy over beef ban, the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly witnessed unruly scenes as the lone independent MLA, Abdul Rashid Sheikh, was assaulted by the ruling BJP members while entering the House here this morning.

BJP MLAs attack independent MLA Sheikh Abdul Rashid as National Conference and Congress MLAs try to save him, in the J&K Assembly, Srinagar, on Thursday. PTI

Ehsan Fazili/Majid Jehangir

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, October 8

In the backdrop of controversy over beef ban, the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly witnessed unruly scenes as the lone independent MLA, Abdul Rashid Sheikh, was assaulted by the ruling BJP members while entering the House here this morning.

The assault led to scuffle between a group of the BJP members and the Opposition National Conference and Congress members while the day’s proceedings were about to start in the Assembly.

The incident took place a day after the Independent MLA from Langate in Kupwara district of North Kashmir hosted a beef party in the lawns of the MLAs’ hostel here last evening.

Enraged by the hosting of the party, the Langate MLA claimed that the BJP members assaulted him in an attempt to kill him. The situation was brought under control by the security present inside the House.

The entire Opposition, including the NC, Congress, CPI (M) and PDF and the Independent MLA, walked out of the House in protest.

Condemning the incident, the Chief Minister Mufti Sayeed asked the Deputy CM and BJP leader to intervene, saying that what had happened in the House was unfortunate. He highlighted the high traditions of the J&K Legislature and said what had happened “should not have happened”. Even as National Conference leader Omar Abdullah sought to listen only to the Chief Minister and leader of the House, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed did not apologise over the incident.

Former Chief Minister Abdullah condemned the incident, saying if other Opposition members had not come to Rashid’s rescue, he would have been killed. He asked the BJP to respect the sentiments of the other communities as “we respect the sentiments of others”.

“The lawmaker would have been lynched”, Omar said, while comparing the incident with Dadri lynching. Omar, while lamenting that his party members were being suspended from the Houses for raising their voice, sought action against those involved in the attack.

On the repeated directives from the Chief Minister, BJP leader and Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Kumar Singh later apologised in the House over the incident, even as he had “condemned” it and described it as “unfortunate”. “I have condemned the incident. I feel sorry for that,” Nirmal Singh said in the House, which was followed by the normal proceedings with a delay of over 20 minutes.