BJP workers protest in Srinagar, demand liquor ban in J&K; detained near Omar Abdullah's residence

Srinagar: BJP workers on Friday took out a protest in Srinagar, demanding a ban on liquor in Jammu and Kashmir. Scores of protesters marched towards chief minister Omar Abdullah's residence on high security Gupkar road in Srinagar, but were intercepted by the police and temporarily detained at the nearby Ram Munshi Bagh police station.

BJP members raised slogans against the ruling National Conference government and Abdullah. They accused Abdullah of reneging on the pre-election promise of banning liquor if he was voted to power.

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"The NC government has always played politics on religion and fooled people and its electorate. What happened to the promise of banning liquor," BJP members asked. They said that before the October 2024 assembly elections, Abdullah falsely blamed the BJP-led central government for the mushrooming of wine shops in J&K and now when he has the power, the ruling dispensation doesn't take any step to ban liquor.

"NC's hypocrisy is getting exposed every single day...they claim to be against alcohol consumption but never take a step to ban it," said Arif, a BJP protester.