Srinagar/ Nagpur: Amidst 3-day-long ongoing controversy in J&K Assembly over ‘beef ban’ what was witnessed by the Assembly on Thursday can be called a ‘black spot’ or unpardonable smudge on the democracy. As soon as the proceedings of Assembly started, BJP MLA Ravindra Raina slapped in front the entire House MLA Engineer Rashid (Independent) who had hosted ‘beef’ party a day earlier, said the media reports.
In fact, Independent MLA Engineer Rashid had hosted the ‘beef’ party on Wednesday at MLA Hostel in Srinagar. About half a dozen BJP MLAs stormed the party and manhandled the host and his supporters. The matter then got subsided. But when the Assembly started on Thursday, BJP MLA Raina did what he should not have done. Unprovoked he got up from his seat and slapped MLA Rashid on his face. The incident was much criticized and it put the dignity of entire Assembly to shame.
According to sources, MLA Engineer Rashin alleged that the BJP MLAs not only did slap him but also dealt him with the blows and kicks. He further alleged, “They tried to kill me.”
Taking a serious view of the incident, former J&K Chief Minister and National Conference leader Umer Abullah has severely criticized the act of BJP MLA Ravindra Raina and condemned the incident to full extent.
What happened on Wednesday?
According to reports reaching Nagpur Today, MLA Eingineer Rashid had organised ‘beef’ party at about 5.30 pm on Wednesday at MLA Hostel. Rashid himself was serving beef on plates to the invitees. The moment it was heard, MLAs Ravindra Raina and Neelam Langeh,collecting half a dozen of their party MLAs stormed the party and allegedly manhandled Rashid and his supporters and also committed sabotage.
3 hostel-employees suspended
The security personnel controlled the situation. The administration suspended 3 employees of the Hostel. The police has not taken any action for want of complaint against the defaulters. Sources informed that Engineer Rashid had been opposing the ban on beef. It was on Wednesday when Speaker Kavindra Gupta rejected the urge of Rashid to place the Beef Bill on top of the agenda for discussion. Speaker told him that all Bills would be tabled according to their numbering order.
Dy CM urged for taking action
It is said that MLA Ravindra Raina discussed the matter with Dy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh and urged him to take action against MLA Engineer Rashid. Sources informed that Nirmal Singh held talks with Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Syed and IG Police.
It may be mentioned that the issue of ‘beef’ has been highly resounding in J&K Assembly over few days. Engineer Rashid argued that the main aim of what he did was to give message to people that there was no need of seeking permission for one’s choice of food.
