Beef ban row claims most of JK Assembly's autumn session

independent MLA from Langate Sheikh Abdul Rashid was thrashed inside the House for hosting a beef party

Bulk of the proceedings of Jammu and Kashmir Assembly's eight-day autumn session were washed away due to the unruly scenes and uproar surrounding the beef ban in the state.

The Assembly witnessed one of its lows in its 64-year history as three BJP MLAs thrashed independent MLA from Langate Sheikh Abdul Rashid inside the House for hosting a beef party.

The PDP and the BJP, partners in the coalition government, did not take a public stand on the issue of beef ban and Congress also maintained a silence over it.

But, main opposition National Conference and two other opposition MLAs submitted three Private Members' bills seeking amendment to the Ranbir Penal Code that would decriminalise cow slaughter in the state.

The House did not function normally for the first five days as the opposition members stalled the proceedings by moving a number of adjournment motions on various issues including the beef ban controversy.

Walkouts and pandemonium -- opposition members rushing to the well of the house at the slightest of provocation -- became a familiar scene during the first five days.

A bulk of the work was done in the last two days after the Bills on beef ban lapsed on Thursday due to paucity of time, proceedings returned to normal for the last two days of the session when bulk of the work of accomplished.