Democratic Freedom Party chairman Hashim Qureshi has said that the law banning sale and consumption of beef is in vogue in Jammu and Kashmir since 1932, when then monarch ruling the state has implemented it under the Ranbir Panel Code. But the law was never implemented in principle in the state, but it exists in the rule books. He said a similar law, Enemy Ordinance Act, (which was enacted against the tribal invasion in 1947) is in vogue, and a case under this act against me is still going in Lower Court here.
Qureshi said that since 75 years leaders of National Conference, Congress, Peoples Democratic Party and other independent politicians including Abdul Gani Lone and Jamaat-e-Islami leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani have been in the Legislative Assembly never felt the need to amend such controversial laws, when need of the hour was to either amend or scrap such laws which impinge on basic human rights of the inhabitants. He said that these politicians are actually responsible for keeping the 75-year old Ranbir Singh’s law against beef consumption in the state in vogue, “as these leaders never felt it imperative to amend or scrap such law.” He said sacrificing the bovine on roads in protest or in anger cannot change the law but hurts the religious sentiments of those who are against the eating of beef. “This way we are actually doing the same as what ban imposers on beef have done,” he said.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel
Hashim Qureshi suggested that a full bench of high court to revoke the ban order on sale and consumption of beef or the members of legislative assembly should pass bill and change the law so that religious sentiments of the people J&K are not hurt.
Meanwhile, the Democratic Freedom Party chairman condemned the incidents of violence and eve-teasing during International Marathon at Kashmir University. He said protest is the democratic right of people but maintaining decency was paramount. He said that by raising Pakistani or ISIS flags on any protest, may it be on water supply shortage, erratic power supply or on any other reason, was not in conformity with our cause. “But the actions of few merciless people mar our peaceful protests and turn them into violent acts,” he said.
He demanded strict action against the eve-teasers and said that such miscreants should not be speared.
Hashim Qureshi expressed regret that the educational institutions were being turned into violence breeding places, which he said was done with an aim to keep “our children bereft of education so that they can choose path of violence and this would be very tragic for our society”. (KNS)