Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has sparked a fresh political and social debate after firmly rejecting demands for a liquor ban in the Union Territory, saying the government has no plans to shut existing alcohol outlets.
The controversy erupted after religious leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq urged the administration to reconsider its liquor policy and impose a complete ban on alcohol and narcotics in Jammu and Kashmir. Responding to the demand, Omar Abdullah made it clear that while Islam does not permit alcohol consumption, the government cannot impose restrictions on people belonging to other faiths.
“Those whose religion permits it can drink,” the Chief Minister said while clarifying that the government was not encouraging alcohol consumption or opening new liquor shops in the region.
Abdullah also claimed that most liquor outlets primarily cater to tourists and visitors from outside Jammu and Kashmir, not local residents. He added that his government has ensured such shops are not opened near sensitive areas or locations that could negatively influence young people.
The remarks quickly triggered political reactions across the Valley. PDP leader Iltija Mufti criticised the Chief Minister’s stand, questioning why states like Gujarat and Bihar could enforce prohibition while Jammu and Kashmir could not.
What has made the issue politically explosive is the larger battle between religious sentiment, tourism-driven economics and the government’s attempt to project a “balanced” policy in the sensitive Union Territory.
With both political and religious voices now weighing in, the liquor ban debate has once again become a high-voltage issue in Kashmir politics.