Srinagar, June 9. The Jammu and Kashmir Reconciliation Front staged a protest in Srinagar on Tuesday, urging the government to impose a complete ban on the sale and distribution of liquor in the region.
Led by its president Dr Sandeep Mawa, the protest took place at the Press Enclave where the demonstrators held placards and shouted slogans against the promotion of liquor outlets in Jammu and Kashmir.
Mawa as per the news agency Kashmir News Trust, lashed out at the government, accusing it of turning a blind eye to growing public concern over the liquor trade. “Using revenue deficit as an excuse to justify liquor sales is unacceptable. You cannot sell social decay to fill the coffers,” he told reporters during the protest.
He further said that the Kashmiri Pandit community stands united in its demand for a total prohibition on liquor in Jammu and Kashmir. “If revenue is the concern, the Pandit Samaj is ready to invest in developmental and economic initiatives to bridge that gap, but we will not accept the spread of liquor shops in the name of fiscal planning,” he asserted.
In addition to the liquor ban, Dr Mawa also raised concerns over the fate of temple lands in Kashmir, calling for their immediate protection and end to alleged encroachments.
“Liquor is a social evil. It destroys families, promotes crime, and erodes our values. The government must act now and put a full stop to this business before more damage is done,” he said. [KNT]
