Separatists and religious groups in Kashmir have sharply reacted to Jammu & Kashmir High Court’s verdict on imposing ban on sale of beef describing it “infringement in religious matters”. Hardline separatist leader Syed Ali Geelani called for protests on Friday followed by a shutdown against the court verdict.
A Division Bench of J&K High Court comprising Justices Dhiraj Singh Thakur and Janak Raj Kotwal revived ban on sale of beef in Jammu & Kashmir with direction to police officers to ensure its implementation. The verdict came in response to a Public Interest litigation (PIl) seeking directions on slaughtering or killing of bovine animals to be declared an offence punishable under Section 298-A and possession of such slaughtered animal an act punishable under Section 298-B of the Ranbir Penal Code (RPC). The court had sought response from Divisional Commissioner Kashmir on the alleged smuggling and slaughtering of bovine animals and their sale in Kashmir but the provincial head of bureaucracy did not respond.
“Divisional Commissioner Kashmir has not filed an appropriate response regarding the smuggling and slaughtering of bovine animals and subsequently their sale especially in Kashmir valley,” the court observed, while banning sale of beef with the direction to DGP to ensure its enforcement. The Bench has further directed that “strict action shall be taken in accordance with law against those who indulge in this activity”.
Meanwhile, hardline separatist leader Syed Ali Geelani called for a shutdown against the court verdict on Saturday. He also appealed people to hold protests after the conclusion of Friday prayers. “This (verdict) is politically motivated and the court has ignored its consequences in the Muslim majority State,” Geelani said in a statement adding, “This verdict aims at fuelling communal tension to malign the freedom struggle that reflects the mindset of RSS and BJP.”
Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, who also heads Mutahida Majlis-e-Ulema, a conglomerate of 20 religious organisations, also issued a similar protest schedule.
Mirwaiz termed the court verdict as “politically motivated” and said the ban on beef sale would be unacceptable. He said the Government, administration and the judiciary is unnecessarily intervening in the religious affairs of the Muslim majority J&K, which causes resentment and displeasure among the masses.
Mirwaiz appealed people to hold protests at all religious places including mosques, shrines and imambaras after Friday’s congregational prayers.
“We will convene a meeting of Islamic scholars and discuss further course of action,” he said. Mirwaiz said on one hand India exports beef to earn foreign exchange and on the other attempts to ban its sale for the common people. He said even as beef eating has not gained currency in Urban Muslims of Kashmir, it is considered as “food of the poor man” of majority of consumers in the countryside.
Jamaat-e-Islami and Muslim league also condemned the ban on sale of beef and described it as infringement into the religious affairs of Muslims.
Newly elected Amir of Jamaat-e-Islami Ghulam Muhammad Bhat said the court verdict (on beef ban) is un-Islamic, unacceptable to people of J&K and against the secular ethics of India.
“Enough is enough. No power on earth can change halal into haram and haram into halal,” said leader of hardline faction of Hurriyat Conference Nayeem Khan. “Muslims have to follow Shariat and not the dictations of any court, Government or bureaucracy,” he said. He appealed Muslims to slaughter only bovine animals on eve of the coming Eid-ul-Zaha to protest the illogical order.
Khan said the order has hurt the religious sentiments of the majority people of the state. “It is interfering in the religious matters of the Muslims which is intolerable,” he said. The court verdict evoked sharp criticism from common people on the social networking sites.
Education Minister Naeem Akhtar, who is also the spokesman for the Government said the coalition Government would study the judgement and come up with a response. “There is already a law governing this subject,” he said. The Opposition NC also chose to parry the issue.