SRINAGAR: A day after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) staged a protest outside Chief Minister Omar Abdullah's residence demanding complete prohibition in the Kashmir Valley, the governing National Conference (NC) softened its stand on the issue and promised to ban liquor sale and consumption in Jammu and Kashmir.
Shift in NC's Stance
Omar Abdullah and NC president Farooq Abdullah had earlier rejected calls for a liquor ban in the Union Territory. On Saturday, however, NC chief spokesperson and legislator Tanvir Sadiq stated, “Alcohol will be banned in J&K and the NC government will do it.” Responding to media queries about the BJP's threat to launch a hunger strike to press for its demand, Sadiq said, “Irrespective of BJP’s drama on the issue,” the NC government would take a decision soon.
The party appears to be on the backfoot now, even though spokespersons and senior functionaries maintained that it was not the NC government which had brought the current excise policy that allowed establishing liquor shops across Jammu and Kashmir.
Legislative Action Expected
“I think in the next Assembly session, the issue would be debated, discussed and finalised,” NC spokesperson Imran Nabi Dar said. “Already many private members have brought bills seeking a liquor ban in the previous session of the assembly. These bills are likely to come up in the next session and they will be decided,” he added, hinting that the NC is likely to support a private member’s bill on alcohol prohibition.
The change in stance came after the BJP’s protest on Friday. The party said it would launch protests from Qazigund town in south Kashmir to Karnah area on the Line of Control in the north, if the NC government failed to act.
Earlier Rejections and Revenue Concerns
The Chief Minister had earlier stoked a row by stating that liquor shops were meant for those who were allowed by their religion to consume alcohol, and that nobody was forced to drink against their will. Rejecting the PDP’s criticism, he said allowing liquor sales did not amount to encouraging alcohol consumption.
Farooq Abdullah also spoke out, saying even his father, Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah, had rejected then Prime Minister Morarji Desai’s call to impose a liquor ban in 1977, as it generated substantial revenue. The NC president said enforcing prohibition in J&K would not stop tipplers from smuggling it from outside.
Context of the Debate
The debate on the liquor ban started after Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha launched a 100-day drive against drugs on April 11, which prompted the PDP and BJP to demand that it should be extended to liquor sales as well.
