Rashid was punched, kicked and abused by the MLAs as soon as he took his seat in the House on Thursday morning. A group of BJP legislators led by MLA Nowshera and president of Bharatiya Janta Yuva Morcha Ravinder Raina pounced on Rashid and caught him by the neck trying to pull him down.
A group of BJP MLAs physically assaulted the independent lawmaker from Langate Sheikh Abdul Rashid aka Engineer Rashid in the Jammu and Kashmir legislative assembly for hosting the beef party in MLAs hostel lawns on Wednesday evening.
Rashid was punched, kicked and abused by the MLAs as soon as he took his seat in the House on Thursday morning. A group of BJP legislators led by MLA Nowshera and president of Bharatiya Janta Yuva Morcha Ravinder Raina pounced on Rashid and caught him by the neck trying to pull him down.
However, National Conference and Congress members and independents immediately swung into action and saved Rashid from the clutches of the BJP MLAs who were unrepentant about their behaviour.
"They tried to kill me. They kicked and hit me on my chest. I fell unconscious for a moment and did not know what was going on. Education minister Naeem Akthar had a few days ago said they will sacrifice me and today they put the plan in action. If this is democracy, then shame on Indian democracy," Rashid said.
Rashid, who heads Awami Ithaad Party, said he was consulting the legal experts about lodging an FIR against the BJP MLA for assault on him. "I am in touch with my legal team to find out whether an FIR could be lodged. If the law permits, I will lodge an FIR for murderous assault on me," he later told dna.
Chaos and confusion reigned supreme in the House after BJP members thrashed Rashid. Slogans rent the air with opposition walking out in protest against the unruly behaviour of BJP members in the House.
Leading the charge was NC working president and former chief minister Omar Abdullah who asked the chief minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed to stand up and condemn the behaviour of the members of alliance partner.
"What Rashid did after Supreme Court order is not illegal. He has not broken any law. so why punish him," he said.
Under fire, Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed strongly condemned the incident and urged his deputy and BJP leader Nirmal Singh to make a statement and admit that mistake has been committed (by members of his party).
"What happened today is highly unfortunate. The sanctity of the House should be maintained and it should not be reduced to a wrestling ring where blows are exchanged. Legislative assembly is a sacred forum where laws are made and matters of public importance are raised and deliberated upon," Mufti said.
Deputy chief minister Nirmal Singh condemned the incident but with a rider that the hosting of beef party by Rashid in the MLA hostel too had hurt the sentiments of the people. "I condemn the incident in the House. The hosting of beef party by Rashid also hurt the sentiments of the people," he said.
However, the BJP members involved in the attack remained defiant saying cow is their mother and nobody has right to hurt their sentiments.
"Cow slaughter or sale of cow beef is banned under section 298 of Ranbir Penal Code. Hindus all over the world consider cow as their mother. However Rashid provoked us when he entered the House by saying he would host thousands of beef parties in every nook and corner of the valley," said Ravinder Raina, BJP MLA from Nowhsera.
Raina said he has filed a formal complaint before the police to lodge an FIR against Rashid for hosting the beef party. "I have talked to the director general of police. I have also moved an application before the police station Kothi Bagh for registering a case against Rashid, but no action has been taken so far," he said.
Meanwhile, authorities on Thursday suspended the manager and deputy manager of the MLA hostel pending enquiry into the hosting of beef party by lawmaker from Langate Engineer Rashid.
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