Srinagar: Independent MLA Engineer Rashid, who was thrashed by BJP legislators on Thursday in the Jammu & Kashmir assembly defended himself by saying that he did not indulge in any illegal act by hosting a beef party at MLA hostel and sarcasticllay asked why he can’t eat beef when others consume alcohol.
“You will find many bottles of liquor at the MLA hostel”, he told the reporters, adding that “if legislators can have alcohol, why can’t I have beef”.
“I didn’t use the hostel’s facility and food was brought from outside. I had no intention of hurting anyone’s sentiments,” he added.
According to a report published in Rising Kashmir News, Rashid told reporters outside the assembly that beef was banned under the state’s Ranbir Penal Code (RPC) and the HC had ordered its implementation, but a Supreme Court order suspended its enforcement for two months in the state.
Radhid termed the attack on him by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLAs in the legislative assembly as “terrorism and hooliganism”.
“Nearly six to eight BJP members grabbed me and kicked and punched me. Is this democratic behaviour. And you expect separatists to join this assembly,” he asked.
Officials at the MLA hostel were reluctant to permit his beef party and allowed it only after he gave explanation of the apex court’s verdict, he said.
“You will find many bottles of liquor at the MLA hostel”, he said, adding that “if legislators can have alcohol, why can’t I have beef”.