Beef party legislator attacked in India

There was complete pandemonium in the Jammu and Kashmir state assembly on Thursday after several BJP lawmakers attacked independent MLA, Engineer Rashid, on the floor of the house for hosting a beef party a day before.
Opposition members had to rush to the MLA's rescue. Speaking to Khaleej Times from Srinagar, a visibly shaken Rashid noted, "The BJP members of the assembly grabbed my arms and neck. Without any provocation they rained blows on my face and chest. Is this what we have come to? Do you simply kill a person for his food choice?"
Shortly after the incident, the entire opposition staged a walkout of the assembly, opposing the actions of the BJP MLAs.
Rashid, a firebrand legislator, known for his maverick style of politics, recounted, "They want to settle things by sheer muscle power. Isn't democracy much more than that? How can BJP MLAs decide what one should or should not consume? If this is what they can do with a state legislator, how can they guarantee security to a common man?"
J&K Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed was quick to condemn the assault. Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh of the BJP said he did not approve of what had happened, but also criticised Engineer Rashid for serving beef to his guests on Wednesday.
The opposition was outraged. Opposition leader and former chief minister Omar Abdullah said: "I am still unable to fully understand what happened.
"The speaker is the custodian of the house. We want to know what the chief minister has to say on this most unfortunate incident."
Abdullah said whatever the provocation, the BJP had no right to launch 'a murderous attack' on him.
"Alcohol is prohibited in my religion. Consumption of pork is prohibited in my religion but that doesn't mean I should attack everyone who consumes alcohol or pork," Abdullah said.
There has been a huge row in Jammu and Kashmir after the state's High Court ordered strict implementation of a pre-independence era law that bans the sale of beef.
The Jammu bench of the High Court had on September 8 directed the state police to enforce the ban. A week later, the Srinagar bench of the High Court admitted a petition that sought the striking down of the provision of the penal code banning the sale of beef.
The matter was taken to the Supreme Court by the state government that put the order of the Jammu bench on temporary suspension for two months, which means that the order is not to be implemented during this time period.
sadiq@khaleejtimes.com

• India