J&K: Assaulted MLA Sheikh Abdul Rashid detained

The protest comes after Rashid was assaulted in the assembly Thursday for hosting a “beef party” the previous evening.

As the assembly session started in the morning, Rashid and his supporters sat on a dharna at the entrance of the civil secretariat and the assembly. They raised slogans against the BJP, PDP and RSS for assaulting Rashid.

Addressing his supporters, Rashid said PDP and BJP joined hands and didn’t allow the resolution to discuss the anti-beef ban bill in the assembly.

He blamed PDP for staging drama and termed them as anti-people. “PDP and BJP sabotaged the bill against beef ban in the assembly. Today’s protest is to show them that we will not tolerate interference with our religion,” he said.

The MLA also said Sayeed had sold his soul and conscience. After unsuccessfully persuading Rashid and his supporters to end the protest, police took them into custody.

Later in the afternoon, Rashid was taken to his house in police custody. “I am still under custody,” Rashid told The Indian Express.

Rashid said they staged the dharna to register a protest against the “sabotage” of the bill against beef ban. “Mufti is not giving us any space inside the assembly, where members of the ruling party tried to kill me. So we came on the road to highlight our demands,” he said.