Though it would be an unprecedented decision to ban the sale of liquor in one division of a Union Territory, considering the demand of the people, especially the workers of a national party that is in power in the country, the NC Government should mull over this issue as a popular government is bound to act in accordance with the aspirations of the people.
This is a burning issue, with many entities demanding a blanket ban on the sale of liquor in the Valley, citing the region’s social and religious values. There is no doubt that consuming alcohol is prohibited in the religion of the majority community in the Valley, and its open sale is hurting the sentiments of many, with people alleging that the easy availability of liquor is luring youth toward this social evil. In this context, the Bharatiya Janata Party had staged a massive protest in Srinagar in the month of May against the operation of wine shops in Kashmir, demanding a complete ban on liquor sale in the Valley.
BJP leaders had raised slogans against liquor sale and accused the National Conference (NC) Government of promoting alcohol culture. Many people consider the sale of liquor in Kashmir Valley a direct assault on their social and religious ethos. It is therefore necessary that the government respect public sentiment and impose a ban on liquor sale for locals.
As Kashmir is often called “Paradise on Earth” and is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the country and indeed in the world, a blanket ban on liquor is not at all advisable and therefore the government in J&K should come up with a mechanism to provide liquor to tourists after showing certain identity documents and framing rules to allow them to consume alcohol at certain places to avoid public nuisance or other conflicts with the local population.
There are several other issues that the government must consider before taking any decision over the issue. Local prohibition can lead to illegal sale of liquor in the region and also affect the generation of revenue, which holds much significance in ensuring public welfare and development.
The best solution, therefore, would be to allow people the freedom to decide for themselves whether to consume alcohol or not, but given the public’s concerns about the issue, the government has to adopt a middle path. All said and done, the government should not ignore strong public sentiment; therefore, it should consult stakeholders, especially political representatives and religious leaders, before taking any decision.
