‘Open sale and use of Alcohol near schools, temples & mosques is a serious threat to our society’
Jammu, Feb 12: Senior Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and former Deputy Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Dr. Nirmal Singh, has voiced strong support for proposed legislation aimed at banning alcohol across the Union Territory.
His support comes in the wake of bills introduced by legislators from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and National Conference (NC), seeking to curb the sale, consumption, and promotion of alcohol in Jammu and Kashmir.
Speaking to news gathering agency KINS, Dr. Nirmal Singh said, “I fully support the bill advocating for a ban on alcohol in Jammu and Kashmir. The BJP has never supported alcohol consumption, and wherever our government is in power, we have taken strong measures against it,” he said.
Dr. Singh highlighted the growing awareness in Kashmir regarding the adverse effects of alcohol but stressed the need for similar consciousness in the Jammu division. “If there are restrictions in Kashmir, why not in Jammu? The open sale and use of alcohol near schools, temples, and mosques is a serious threat to our society. Alcohol has destroyed families, and unfortunately, women are the worst victims,” he added.
Addressing concerns about the economic impact on businesses dependent on alcohol sales in Jammu, Dr. Nirmal Singh dismissed such arguments, stating, “If we justify the business of alcohol, then what stops us from legalizing drugs? Both are harmful, and there must be strict restrictions. The health and well-being of our people are far more important than commercial interests.”
The proposed bill, introduced by Fayaz Ahmad Mir, PDP MLA from Kupwara, calls for a comprehensive ban on the advertisement, sale, purchase, consumption, and manufacture of alcoholic beverages in Jammu and Kashmir.
Mir expressed deep concern over the rising trend of alcohol consumption, particularly its impact on the youth. “Alcohol is becoming a serious societal threat, eroding the moral fabric of our community. It’s imperative that lawmakers act decisively to curb this menace,” he said. The bill outlines stringent penalties, including imprisonment and hefty fines, for violators.
In a similar move, National Conference MLA Ahsan Pardesi has also submitted a private member’s bill seeking a ban on alcohol in Kashmir and other Muslim-majority regions of Jammu and Kashmir. Pardesi highlighted that the consumption of alcohol contradicts the region’s sufi-reshi traditions and undermines its cultural and religious values.
Adding to the momentum, the Congress party has also announced its support for the bills proposed by the PDP and NC.(KINS)
