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J-K MLA Engineer Rashid detained after trying to gherao assembly

Rashid along with his party activists held a sit-in outside secretariat before being whisked away by police to premises of secretariat.

Updated on: Oct 9, 2015, 14:20:56 IST
Hindustan Times | By , Srinagar
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Jammu and Kashmir police arrested legislator Engineer Abdul Rashid on Friday as he was trying to gherao the legislative assembly.

Engineer Rashid, an independent legislator, holds a banner as he disrupts the first day of Jammu and Kashmir state assembly session in Srinagar. (AP)
Engineer Rashid, an independent legislator, holds a banner as he disrupts the first day of Jammu and Kashmir state assembly session in Srinagar. (AP)

Rashid was protesting the alleged sabotage of the beef bill as it was not taken up for discussion in state legislature on Thursday.

Rashid along with his party activists held a sit-in outside secretariat before being whisked away by police to premises of secretariat.

Speaking to Hindustan Times, Rashid said he was under detention as he was “protesting the failure of the government to stop interference in people’s religious matter’’.

“They have muted my voice in the assembly so I have taken to roads,’’ he said.

The MLA from Langate was thrashed by BJP legislators for hosting a beef party in the premises of the state assembly on Thursday .

Lawmakers from the ruling BJP threw kicks and punches at Engineer Rashid a day after he reportedly served beef kebabs and patties on the lawns of the state legislators’ hostel in protest against the prohibition on cow slaughter that has triggered debates and communal concerns in parts of the country.

Amid the uproar, separate opposition bills seeking amendments to the RPC to decriminalise cattle slaughter were not taken up by the assembly on Thursday despite being listed for discussion, prompting criticism from the National Conference, Left and Congress leaders.

Speaker Kavinder Gupta adjourned the House for the day at 1.30 pm, the schedule followed in the assembly during the current session, despite opposition leaders seeking more time to discuss the issue.

  • Toufiq Rashid
    ABOUT THE AUTHOR
    Toufiq Rashid

    Chief of bureau of HT at Srinagar, Toufiq has been covering the volatile state of Kashmir for the past seven years. Was working as special correspondent in Indian Express in New Delhi, covering health and wellness. Has done human interest stories from across the country for almost a decade.Read More

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