Calling the Jammu and Kashmir authorities’s determination to open liquor outlets in some areas “disturbing”, Hurriyat Convention Chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq Friday warned that the transfer may spark protests.
Talking at Jamia Masjid, he stated, “I need to draw the eye of the individuals and the authorities in the direction of a really severe and disturbing growth. A discover by the Batmaloo merchants and enterprise group for public info states that they’re closing down outlets for 3 days to protest the opening of a liquor store within the space.”
Urging speedy motion by authorities, Mirwaiz stated that the opening of recent liquor outlets is “completely unacceptable” to the individuals of Kashmir.
“It’s an assault on our non secular, cultural and societal ethos and an entire disregard for it — a deliberate try to smash our individuals and our future generations. Already, we’re grappling with the menace of drug habit and now the authorities are selling liquor to additional smash the individuals and our societal and cultural cloth,” he stated, addressing the Friday congregation.
He stated that the authorities are conscious that J&Okay has Muslim majority inhabitants, consumption of liquor “is towards the tenets of Islam” and but it’s being promoted.
“Why don’t they put it up for sale in Gujarat, which is a dry state — why J&Okay? Hasn’t tourism flourished right here for many years with out liquor, as that is the widespread ridiculous argument made?” he requested.
Mirwaiz additionally urged the Omar Abdullah authorities to “intervene and guarantee” that this motion is corrected.
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“It’s their responsibility to make sure that such proposals are nipped within the bud. In the event that they fail, then the ulema (non secular authorities), civil society and folks typically can have no choice however to protest and are available out towards this assault,” he stated.
In March this 12 months, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had dismissed experiences of recent liquor vends being opened in Kashmir. Issuing a clarification, the federal government talked about that as per the J&Okay Excise Coverage for the 12 months 2025-26, notified on February 15 this 12 months, 305 vends (wine outlets) have been placed on e-auction. After the end result of the bidding course of, 271 vends have been allotted by means of e-auction course of (performed by J&Okay Financial institution) to profitable bidders.
At current, the variety of liquor vends in Jammu is 291, whereas 14 are operational in Kashmir.