Ruhullah says liquor shops must shut across Kashmir

SRINAGAR, MAY 11 – Srinagar MP Agha Ruhullah Mehdi on Monday said liquor outlets themselves should not exist, asserting that shutting down wine shops would automatically prevent access to alcohol, a day after Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said nobody was being forced to consume liquor.

Addressing reporters, Ruhullah said the ruling National Conference had promised during the election campaign to regulate and ban liquor sales and close wine shops for locals.

“No one is forced to take drugs, yet governments act against drugs and try to ban them. Similarly, liquor shops should not exist,” he said.

Referring to Omar Abdullah’s remarks, Ruhullah said the Chief Minister’s response was “arrogant, unethical and illogical” and against the promises made to the people during the elections.

“He should act on the promises made to the people instead of telling them to avoid shops,” Ruhullah said, adding that people had voted for the National Conference to fight what he termed “arrogance” and “tagging” of Kashmiris.

The Srinagar MP also said people in Jammu and Kashmir had voted for restoration of constitutional protections and statehood.

On reports of demolition drives linked to anti-drug operations, Ruhullah alleged that bulldozers were being used as a form of “extrajudicial punishment.”

“We are against drugs and want strict action against those involved in drug trafficking, but punishing families or demolishing homes in the name of anti-drug operations is wrong,” he said.

Ruhullah also alleged that profiling of Muslims and minorities was taking place in different parts of the country and claimed similar actions were now being witnessed in Kashmir as well.(KNS).