MLA thrashed in J&K Assembly

Ehsan Fazili and Majid Jahangir

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, October 8

The beef row took a violent turn inside the J&K Assembly today when BJP MLAs attacked Independent legislator Abdul Rashid Sheikh. The Independent MLA from Langate in Kupwara district of north Kashmir had hosted a beef party on the lawns of the MLAs’ hostel last evening.

The incident occurred while legislators were entering the House. Controversial beef ban Bills were listed for discussion on the fifth day of autumn session today. The situation was brought under control with the intervention of the security staff posted inside the House. After around 20 minutes of chaos, Opposition members, including those from the National Conference, Congress and the CPM, walked out of the House in protest.

Chief Minister Mufti Mohammed Sayeed described the incident as unfortunate. He talked to Deputy Chief Minister and BJP leader Nirmal Kumar Singh on the issue. Pointing to the high traditions of the J&K legislature, he said it “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 did not apologise for the incident.

Condemning the incident, Omar said if other Opposition members had not come to Rashid’s rescue, he would have been killed. He asked the BJP to respect sentiments of other communities as “we respect sentiments of others”. “The lawmaker would have been lynched”, Omar said. He compared it with the incident that took place at Dadri recently. He sought action against those involved in the attack. “I have condemned the incident. I feel sorry for that,” Nirmal Singh said in the House. 

Abdul Rashid Sheikh alleged there was an attempt on his life. A group of six to eight members pounced on him and he was saved only because of timely intervention by other Opposition members, he said. Rashid said he was not doing anything illegal as the Supreme Court had suspended for two months the J&K High Court directive on strict implementation of the beef ban.

“I am an elected MLA. The BJP has only exposed itself by resorting to violence,” Rashid told mediapersons after the assault.

This is the first session of the state Assembly in the summer capital after the PDP-BJP coalition government led by Sayeed took over on March 1 this year. The brief autumn session has witnessed heated exchange on a number of occasions in both Houses ever since it began with obituary references on October 3.

Apart from the beef ban, rehabilitation of the flood-hit and victims of cross-border firing, law and order situation and development issues have also led to uproarious scenes in two Houses over the past few days.