Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir is witnessing a renewed political clash over the issue of banning liquor, a debate that first surfaced in 2016 but was dismissed by the then-ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP), led by Mehbooba Mufti. Now, the situation has reversed, with the PDP taking the lead in advocating for a ban, while the National Conference (NC) accuses the party of double standards.
The PDP has launched a signature campaign supporting the ban. It has drawn attention from across the region. Over the weekend, posters promoting the ban appeared throughout Srinagar, urging tourists to “respect local culture and traditions.” The police immediately removed the posters, which prompted criticism from opposition parties, NDTV reported.
Liquor ban bills submitted
The issue is expected to dominate discussions in the upcoming budget session of the assembly, scheduled to begin on March 3. Bills seeking a liquor ban have been submitted by PDP’s Fayaz Ahmad Mir, NC’s Ahsan Pardesi and Sheikh Khursheed Ahmad of the Awami Ittehad Party (AIP).
Adding momentum to the campaign, PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti joined the signature drive today, a day after her daughter, Iltija Mufti, officially kicked it off. On Friday, traders in Srinagar’s iconic Lal Chowk had put up posters welcoming tourists while urging them to “love and cherish your family” and avoid “liquor, drugs, spitting on roads, and smoking” as a mark of respect for local traditions.
Supporting his bill, NC legislator Ahsan Pardesi said that unrestricted alcohol sales undermine Kashmir’s cultural and religious values. “Our heritage has always opposed intoxicants and this bill aims to safeguard those principles,” he said.
Kashmir’s liquor ban history
While tourism remains a crucial part of Kashmir’s economy, the region has historically maintained a cosmopolitan approach to hospitality. The first liquor shop in the Valley dates back to the British era. Although alcohol continued to be sold for decades, the eruption of militancy in the 1990s led Islamist extremist groups to enforce an unofficial ban. The National Conference, while opposing a legal ban, has maintained a pro-choice stance, arguing that tourists should have the freedom to decide whether they wish to consume alcohol.
