Several leaders detained; party demands complete ban on alcohol in Kashmir; NC hits back, cites 2017 excise policy
Srinagar, May 15: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Friday staged a protest in Srinagar against the sale of liquor in Kashmir, demanding a complete ban on alcohol and closure of all wine shops across the Valley.
The protest march began from Ram Munshi Bagh in Sonwar and proceeded towards Gupkar Road, where the residence of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah is located.
However, police stopped the march well before it could reach the high-security zone and detained several BJP leaders.
According to details available with news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), security forces were deployed in strength, and the protesters were dispersed peacefully after being halted near Gupkar Road.
Slogans such as “Sharab noshi band karo” (Stop liquor sale) and “Omar Sarkar hi hi”(Down with Omar government) were raised during the march, with demonstrators accusing the administration of promoting alcohol consumption in the region.
BJP spokesperson Altaf Thakur told reporters at Gupkar that the party in Kashmir is against all kinds of intoxicants. “The National Conference government wants to drown the local youth in liquor,” Thakur alleged. He warned that if the government does not act, the BJP will continue its protests. “The BJP will lock down liquor stores. This is a warning,” he said.
BJP leader Manzoor Bhat also threatened that the party may launch a hunger strike if its demand is ignored, blaming rising addiction among youth on the availability of alcohol.
Meanwhile, the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (JKNC), in a post on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), defended its position while questioning previous policy decisions. “We fully respect the sentiments of these 20 BJP workers. But one must ask: which government was in power in J&K when the 2017 Excise Policy made Municipal Wards and Tehsils the basis for identifying unreserved areas? And which government was in office in 2022 when liquor sales were permitted in grocery shops?” the NC statement read. (KNO)
