Beef ban row likely to dominate Jammu and Kashmir Assembly session tomorrow

SRINAGAR: The issues of beef ban and rehabilitation of flood victims are expected to dominate the eight-day autumn session of Jammu and Kashmir Assembly beginning here tomorrow.

The session is set to be a stormy affair as opposition parties are geared up to corner the seven-month-old PDP-BJP coalition government on many issues, especially the controversial beef ban issue and delay in rehabilitation of flood victims.

The National Conference, CPI(M) and independent MLA Sheikh Abdul Rashid have submitted separate bills seeking revocation of a 150-year-old law that criminalises cow slaughter in the state.

The issue of beef ban came to fore after a division bench of High Court in Jammu last month directed the state to strictly implement the ban in the state as per the law.

The ruling evoked strong resentment from various quarters with many separatist and religious organisations terming it as "interference in religious affairs" and sought revocation of the law, besides pressing for implementation of ban on liquor in the state.

A counter petition was filed in the High Court here, which sought directions to revoke the law. Yesterday, the HC directed the government to file its response in three weeks.

The state government has approached Supreme Court against two "conflicting" orders of the High Court pertaining to the slaughter of bovine animals and ban on beef sale in the state, claiming these were being "misused" to disturb peace in the state.