Srinagar, Sept. 18 (The Telegraph): Hindu radicals and Muslim clerics have threatened counter agitations in Jammu and Kashmir over the thorny subject of a beef ban.
The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) today warned of an economic blockade of the Valley and a street movement in Jammu if the Assembly allowed a discussion on a bill seeking to lift the ban on cattle slaughter in the state.
Kashmir's Muslim clergy urged people to defy the beef ban during the coming Id-ul-Azha festival and threatened an agitation if the government interfered in Muslims' "religious affairs".
Kashmir has been up in arms after the high court last week directed the state administration to enforce a decades-old beef ban that was promulgated by the erstwhile Dogra rulers and has remained in the statutes.
Section 298A of the state's Ranbir Penal Code punishes the slaughter of a cow, ox or buffalo with 10 years in jail; Section 298B stipulates a year's jail for possession of beef.
The state's main Opposition, the National Conference, and some other parties are moving a bill seeking to repeal the beef ban.
VHP state president Leela Karan Sharma today said the people of Jammu would launch a movement similar to the 2008 Amarnath land agitation if the Assembly Speaker allowed the bill to be discussed.
"If the beef ban law is revoked, the VHP will enforce an economic blockade of Kashmir," Sharma said in Jammu.
He said the sale and consumption of beef amounted to playing with the sentiments of the country's majority community.
Yesterday, the Muttaheda-Majlis-e-Ulema, a group representing scholars from various schools of Islamic thought, held a meeting presided over by moderate Hurriyat chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq. It declared the court order on beef as a direct interference in Muslims' religious affairs.
"Muslims of Kashmir have to put forward a united strategy against this move, which is aimed at hurting our religious sentiments.... There is no room for any anti-Muslim law in the Muslim-majority state of Jammu and Kashmir," the Mirwaiz said.
The Ulema passed a resolution asking Muslims to defy the ban during Id by slaughtering cattle in large numbers after the prayers.
It warned the government against stopping people from slaughtering cattle and selling beef, or harassing those who did.
