Political tensions in Jammu and Kashmir further flared, this time on Friday by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), against Omar Abdullah-led government posing liquor sale at the Kashmir Valley.
Members and workers of the BJP protested against sale and consumption of liquor items in the Kashmir division in a protest march in Srinagar. The protesters, mostly from Ram Munshibagh of the Sonwar area, tried to march towards Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s residence at Gupkar calling for a change in the Congress-led National Conference government.
Altaf Thakur, BJP spokesman, in the protest brought grievances to the forefront, alleging the Government was more at interest in revenue than the cultural and religious sentiments of Kashmiris. He claimed the administration was pro-promoting liquor sales in the Valley when there was a lot of opposition.
Thakur stated that if the Government did not put the policy into reconsideration, then the BJP would continue the agitation in Kashmir or the state can call it as the “land of sages”. If the administration does continue to permit liquor outlets to operate, he said the party would be forced to take direct action to “lock them down” if they want to.
The debate sparked after recent statement by Omar Abdullah on regulated selling of liquor which made the point that people drink liquor on their own will and earlier governments had also permitted liquor outlets in the area.
Now the issue has become “big politics” in JK, opposition parties and religious organizations have been targeting the National Conference government over the sensitive issue.