‘Liquor has no place in our spiritually rich society’
SRINAGAR: Ahead of the Budget session, three Members of Legislative Assembly (MLAs) from National Conference (NC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Awami Ittehad Party (AIP) have submitted the private bills, demanding ban on alcohol in Jammu and Kashmir.
According to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), three MLAs associated with different political parties have introduced private bills, seeking the closure of wine shops and also a complete ban on the sale and consumption of alcohol.
NC MLA from Lal Chowk Ahsan Pardesi has introduced a private bill. He told KNO that the alcohol sales violate the region’s deeply rooted traditions, where Islam strictly forbids intoxicants.
“The unchecked sale of alcohol disregards the religious and cultural ethos of Kashmir. Our heritage has always stood against intoxicants, and this bill is a step toward preserving those values,” he added.
“Alcohol is not merely a personal indulgence; its repercussions reverberate across society. At a time when we are already grappling with a severe drug crisis, facilitating access to alcohol will only exacerbate the problem. If decisive action is not taken, it will erode the moral and social fabric of our communities,” he added.
PDP MLA from Kupwara assembly constituency, Mir Mohammad Fayaz said that alcohol can be banned in Gujarat, when not in J&K, which is a Muslim majority state. “I have heard that the NC MLA too has filed a private bill, which is aappreciable. We should get united and fight this nuisance to eliminate it from our society,” he said.
AIP legislator from Langate, Sheikh Khurshid Ahmad has also submitted a private bill in this regard. AIP Chief Spokesperson Inam Un Nabi said that MLA Langate Sheikh Khursheed Ahmad was the first to submit a bill in the J&K Legislative Assembly demanding a complete ban on alcohol.
“Liquor has no place in our spiritually rich society. A land known as ‘Reshwa’er’ (the land of saints) should not be tainted by alcohol trade. Since 2009 Er Rashid has been fighting against this menace and AIP remains steadfast in its mission to declare J&K a dry state,” he said.
AIP also spearheaded the move to ban online gaming, which has led to financial and emotional ruin for countless families. “Unregulated online gaming has pushed many young people into gambling addiction and debt. This must be curbed before it causes more devastation,” Inam Un Nabi said.