Independent MLA Engineer Rashid, who a hosted beef party at MLA hostel on Wednesday, was beaten up by BJP MLA Ravinder Raina in the Jammu and Kashmir assembly on Thursday.
Rashid was rescued by the members of opposition National Conference and Congress.
Former J&K Chief minister Omar Abdullah termed the assault as “Dadri Style”.
When the house convened on Thursday morning, a group of BJP legislators led by Ravinder Raina pounced on Rashid inside the house.
The opposition members immediately came to the rescue of Rashid and took him to safety.
The opposition has condemned the attack on Rashid and former Chief Minister Abdullah drew its parallels with the Dadri lynching.
“If we had not rescued him you would have killed him” Omar adressed BJP members. “It was done in same was as done in Dadri.”
“What happened today is impossible to digest. An honourable member being assaulted in the House. It seems that they wanted to murder him (Rashid). If he had done anything that was objectionable that should have been put on record,” Omar added.
Condemning the assault, Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed said sentiments should be kept under check.
“I condemn this incident. The House has good tradition… sentiments should be kept under control. I ask Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh to apologise for the misconduct of his party MLAs.”
Singh, however, stopped short of apologising.
“We do not approve of what happened in the assembly today. But what happened in the MLAs hostel yesterday was also wrong,” he said.
At Wednesday’s party, Rashid served kebabs, rista (minced meat balls) and patties -- all made from beef -- to the guests.
Though Engineer Rashid said he did not want to offend anyone with the party arranged on the lawn of the MLA hostel where the guests were served beef preparations, he wanted to send a message that people can eat what they choose and cannot be barred from having food of their choice.
“I didn’t do anything illegal as the Supreme Court has already suspended the high court order for two months. I even did not prepare the dishes there, I got them prepared from outside,” Rashid told newsmen.
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.
Engineer Rashid has already tabled a bill in the state assembly seeking scrapping of a 1932 law which bans slaughter, the sale and consumption of beef in Jammu and Kashmir.
The bill is slated to be taken up for discussion today.
All Photographs: Umar Ganie
With Agency Inputs
