Opposition National Conference (NC) on Sunday asked the PDP-BJP government to bring in an ordinance to decriminalise cow slaughter and sale of beef in Jammu and Kashmir ahead of Eid-ul-Azha. The party said it was the state government's moral obligation to make amendments to Ranbir Penal Code (RPC) on the beef ban issue as failure to do so would impinge on religious beliefs of the people. "While NC has made it clear that the party will submit a bill to make necessary amendments to the RPC in this context, the fact that Eid-ul-Azha falls before the start of the Assembly Session makes it imperative on behalf of the Government to pass an ordinance. Ordinances are meant for such urgencies and vital matters. (Chief Minister) Mufti (Mohammad Sayeed) should get the ordinance passed by his Cabinet and send it to the Governor as soon as possible so as to prevent an explosive situation on Eid-ul-Azha where traditionally cow sacrifices are commonplace all across the State," senior NC Leader Abdul Rahim Rather said. [related-post] He was addressing the National Conference's one-day convention in Chrar-e-Sharif in Budgam district. Party's provincial president Kashmir Nasir Aslam Wani said, the ordinance was a moral obligation of the Sayeed Government towards the people of this State whose religious beliefs could be impinged on, by the implementation of the ban on cow slaughter. Wani also asked the Chief Minister and the State Law Minister to clarify how the State's Deputy Advocate General was part of a PIL in which the Government was the respondent. "Did Mufti Sahab's Government not ask the particular petitioner to withdraw from all cases against the State Government before appointing him as the Deputy Advocate General? Or worse yet, was he awarded as a Deputy Advocate General as a reward for his petition? On Tuesday, Jammu and Kashmir High Court has directed the police to ensure that there is no sale of beef anywhere in the state and that strict action is taken against those who violate the law," he said.
