SRI NAGAR: The beef ban in Jammu and Kashmir seems to be snowballing into a major controversy with PDP and even BJP leaders in the State voicing their dissent. In fact, a BJP leader Khursheed Ahmad Malik, who unsuccessfully contested from Kokernag last year, is organising a party with beef on the menu.
“I will be organising a party for Muslims and Hindus to send across a message of religious tolerance. I will prepare dishes of beef for Muslims and pure vegetarian dishes for Hindus,” he said. Asked if he had the permission, he said he would be hosting it in his personal capacity.
Senior leader and MP of the ruling People’s Democratic Party, Tariq Hameed Karra, along with a party legislator too opposed the beef ban. “Sensitive religious matters should be left to the teachings of holy books and the preaching of prophets, and the judiciary has no right to intrude into that domain,” Hameed Karra said.
Karra said J&K had paid a huge price by way of the death and destruction that followed a similar imprudent action by then Governor Jagmohan, in 1985. The PDP MP asked the judiciary to revisit its order on beef before the issue snowballs into a major controversy with ruinous consequences.
A PDP MLA from Wachi constituency in Valley, Aijaz Ahmad Mir, also opposed beef ban in the State. Kashmir observed a shutdown on Saturday against the court order. Meanwhile, the opposition National Conference asked the PDP-BJP government to bring in an ordinance to decriminalise cow slaughter and sale of beef in the state ahead of Eid-ul-Azha. The party said it was the government’s moral obligation to amend the penal code.