SRINAGAR : Independent MLA Sheikh Abdul Rashid, who was beaten inside the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly by some BJP legislators, today accused the PDP-BJP coalition of trying to “slaughter” him and said “sorry” was not enough for the attack.
“You saw how my Chief Minister (Mufti Mohammad Sayeed) got up and said I am sorry. That is not enough. I did not commit any illegal act… I want to tell RSS and BJP to stop building castles over our bodies,” Rashid told reporters in the Assembly lawns here.
Accusing PDP-BJP coalition of trying to “slaughter” him, Rashid said Education Minister Naeem Akhtar had told him recently about it.
“I want to remind you what Naeem Akhtar sahib told a few days ago when I asked him if he had made a ‘qurbani’ (sacrifice) during Haj (pilgrimage). He said yes we are going to slaughter you (as a sacrifice). He said it on the floor of the House and what happened today was the practical shape given to what Akhtar had said,” he said.
He said the Supreme Court has put the ban on consumption of beef in abeyance for two months in the state. “If BJP MLAs can consume liquor in MLA hostel, why can’t I take beef. This country has not remained Gandhi’s country but has become the country of RSS and Mohan Bhagwat,” the legislator said.
Referring to the assault on him, Rashid claimed six to eight BJP legislators attacked him soon after he entered the House today.
“As soon as the House started I went to take my seat. The BJP MLAs, six to eight in number, came (towards me). While some of them grabbed me by the neck and legs, others threw blows on my chest and I turned unconscious.
“I really don’t know what happened after that. (Opposition leader and former Chief Minister) Omar (Abdullah) (along with party colleagues) A M Sagar and Akbar Lone and Congress MLAs came and got me from my place,” he said.
“I just want to remind that if this is the democracy then shame on this democracy. You are grabbing an elected MLA like this. I am sure that I got some injuries inside my chest because you saw how my chest was kicked,” Rashid said.
When asked what action he foresee against the BJP MLAs for assaulting him, Rashid said he did not see anything happening on the floor of the house.
“I can see nothing happening on the floor of the House. They are all puppets and get directions from New Delhi,” he said. (PTI)
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