Alleging that ban on bovine slaughter was a deliberate attempt to divide people of Jammu and Kashmir, CPI (M) senior leader M Y Tarigami Sunday cautioned that there would be serious consequences, if debate on beef ban issue is not allowed in the ongoing autumn session of the Legislative Assembly.While addressing a press conference here at his Gupkar residence, Tarigami said that neither speaker of the Assembly nor chief minister of the state could afford to undermine the sanctity of the house. “If speaker Assembly does not allow debate or discussion on the beef ban issue related bills, it will have serious consequences. We have witnessed in the past as history itself remains witness to it, that whenever democratic process was undermined in the state there have been serious consequences,” Tarigami said.Tarigami said that if bills were not allowed to discuss, that would be an attempt to disrespect the power of the legislation. “It will not be only disrespect to the legislation but as an attempt to weaken the people of Kashmir,” he said.
Pertinently, seeking decriminalising bovine slaughter in the state, opposition National Conference, MLA Langate Engineer Abdul Rashid and CPI (M) senior leader M Y Tarigami have submitted bills in the Assembly to discuss beef ban issue in the ongoing autumn session. “The beef ban issue is very important issue and must be discussed in the legislation. This is a deliberate attempt by some elements trying to divide the society. We all should respect each other’s religious sentiments to foil such nefarious designs,” he said.He said that the speaker Assembly was implementing orders of the government in the house and was working as its (government’s) spokesperson. “Speaker must protect the sanctity of the house and act as custodian of the house not as government’s spokesperson,” Tarigami said.He said that he respects the judiciary as the matter was sub- judice. “I respect court orders and legislation has no authority to violate judiciary and similarly I think judiciary too will not encroach power of the legislation. Court does not bar the Assembly to discuss the bills submitted already,” he said.
Stating that no power can thrust upon dietry habits on any society he said, “We have been following a tradition which has always respect religious sentiments of all communities living in the state of Jammu and Kashmir,” he said.Meanwhile, he termed the observations of the speaker on beef ban related bills as “regrettable” and said, “It was not expected from the Speaker to disrespect his constitutional mandate of neutrality and virtually act as spokesperson of the government. Remarks of the Speaker indicate that the government has shelved the much needed debate on the bills related to beef ban.”He added speaker must appreciate the importance of bills on the subject given the sensitivities involved therein and use the authority vested in him so that these important bills are not shelved for the narrow political interests. (KNS)