Days after the uproar over the ink attack on Sudheendra Kulkarni by Shiv Sena, Jammu and Kashmir MLA Engineer Rashid faced a similar attack in the national capital on Monday. The independent MLA in J&K has been attacked for defying the ban on beef by hosting a party in Srinagar earlier in October.
He was holding a press conference at Press Club along with relatives of the two truck drivers who were burnt by a mob at Udhampur in Jammu region on October nine. One of the victims--19-year-old Zahid-- died at Safdurjung hospital on Sunday morning.
As he finished his press conference, he was held at the gate of the Press Club by some TV journalists for a one-to-one interview when some activists shouting slogans "gow mata ka apman, nahi sahega Hindustan (India will not tolerate any disrespect to cow)" pounced on him and painted him with black colour, mobil oil and blue ink.
Some of the TV journalists as well as policemen also received colours on their faces as well as clothes while trying to save the MLA from the mob.
Two people were detained by the police and whisked away to Parliament Street Police station while Rashid had to take refuge inside the Press Club till additional force came in.
"They are mentally sick. I want the whole world to see this how these people are trying to muzzle the voice of Kashmiris," Rashid, who was beaten by BJP MLAs in the state assembly for hosting the beef party, said after the attack.
"I do not eat beef, mutton, or chicken but that was a form of protest to tell the authorities that do not interfere in anyone's religion," Rashid had explained to reporters during the press conference when he was asked about him violating the sentiments of the people.
Rashid, who has been at the forefront of the agitation against beef ban, had earlier also faced an attack for his stand on the issue.
On October 9, he was roughed up by members of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the J&K Assembly.
Reacting to the incident, former J&K chief minister Farooq Abdullah termed it as a tragic incident, saying it showed the growing intolerance in the society.
"Prime Minister Narendra Modi should look into who is behind the attack on the MLA," said Abdullah.
(With inputs from PTI)
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