MLA Langate Er Rasheed Thursday appealed all MLAs cutting across party lines, that they must rise to the occasion and vote in favour of the bill seeking revoking of ban on slaughtering bovine animals in Jammu and Kashmir. Addressing a press conference in Srinagar Er Rasheed said that the issue pertains to everybody irrespective of political ideologies and MLAs must vote to satisfy their own conscience and fulfil the deep desire and wish of their people who have voted for them. Er Rasheed termed denial by honourable high court to admit his petition seeking abolishing section 298A/B of RPC, on the grounds that as a law maker one cannot file a PIL as unfortunate.
However he appreciated Prof. Afzal Qaderi for his bold initiative to challenge the section 298A/B of RPC in the honourable high court. He said. “AIP will start a signature campaign in every district head quarter in Kashmir to press every local MLA to vote in favour of the bill and the campaign will start tomorrow on 18th September at 3PM from Kupwara and will continue from 19th September from Baramulla and Srinagar districts, from 20th September from Shopian and Pulwama districts, from 21st September from Kulgam and Anantnag Districts, from 22nd September from Ganderbal and Badgam and from 23rd September from Bandipora district. There will be a peaceful sit-in in Srinagar on 3rd of October on eve of beginning of assembly session so as to communicate the feelings of signatures and every common Kashmiris to the state legislators regarding support to the bill.
” Er Rasheed further said that he like other Kashmiris is not seeking abolishing of section 298A and 298B of RPC on communal grounds but whole house needs to understand that the said sections are a serious violation of fundamental rights and amount to interference in religious affairs. He added that Muslims of the state who constitute 70% of the whole population of the state, have due respect towards the members of other communities and will never do anything that will hurt the sentiments of another community but it is duty of the state legislator and the govt. to ensure that rights and sentiments of every religion are protected. (CNS)