Protests held, bills submitted in J&K assembly demanding alcohol ban in J&K

Demand for the ban on liquor sale and making Jammu and Kashmir a dry state is gaining momentum as protests were held in support of the ban in Jammu and three legislators from National Conference, People’s Democratic Party and Awami Ittehad Party have submitted separate private member bills for the upcoming assembly session demanding the same.

Over the past week three legislators Ahsan Pardesi from ruling NC, Fayaz Mir of the PDP and Khursheed Ahmad Sheikh of the AIP informed that they submitted private member bills separately demanding ban on the sale of alcohol in J&K. The month-long budget session in J&K will start from March 3, in the winter capital of Jammu during which the bills will be tabled.

A group of protesters led by an activist Sunil Dimple led a protest in Jammu on Tuesday demanding ban on alcohol sales alleging that the J&K administration wants to destroy the future of youth who are already struggling with depression and unemployment.


“We don't want the revenue which destroys youngsters, who are the real future of J&K. Government is aiding this destruction, which cannot be tolerated. We are witnessing a sharp increase in crime rate in Jammu,” Dimple told reporters in Jammu. Earlier, Shiv Sena (UBT) members also protested in Jammu city demanding a ban on alcohol and making J&K a dry state. “Jammu was once famous as land of temples and now it has become land of wine shops. Why isn't the BJP talking about it? Is it not hurting the religious sentiment?” Shiv Sena members asked.

In Kashmir, a ruling party legislator Tanvir Sadiq ran into controversy when he said that J&K is a tourist destination and alcohol ban issue has to be discussed with the tourism stakeholders like travel agents before taking any final decision. He was criticized by several local politicians including Hurriyat leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, who said that J&K is a muslim majority region and the government should keep that in mind. “There are several dry states in India despite the tourist activity, why can’t we keep that in mind,” said Mirwaiz, hinting at Gujarat and Bihar. Later, Sadiq issued a clarification video saying that “he was a practicing muslim and is against alcohol as well.”

As per the National Family Health Survey-5 in J&K 10.5 percent males and 0.2 percent females consume alcohol but a large percentage of tourists consume alcohol as well. The excise collection from the alcohol sales has been recorded around Rs 2486.34 crore, which was around Rs 991.55 crore in 2013-14.