After Mirwaiz criticism, National Conference spokesperson’s U-turn on J-K liquor ban: ‘I’m against alcohol’

Putting his weight behind liquor ban, the Mirwaiz said, “The statement that has come from a responsible person of National Conference is very irresponsible.”

“To say that J&K is a tourist state and liquor should be allowed here is unfortunate and we condemn it,” he said.

“They are favouring liquor in the name of economics and revenue,” he said, adding that J&K is a Muslim-majority UT and the government should keep that in mind.

The debate over liquor ban began when PDP leader Fayaz Ahmad Mir submitted a private members’ Bill seeking ban on liquor in J&K. The J&K Assembly Budget session is scheduled to begin in March in Jammu.

On Friday, Sadiq had said, “J&K is a tourist state. This (liquor) is allowed in many Arab countries. We have to take all the stakeholders along like travel agents association.” “If we ban liqour, how it is going to impact the tourists. Collectively we are against it (liquor) but we have to see other factors as well,” he said.

Mirwaiz pointed out that there are eight to 10 states in the country where sale of liquor is banned. “Instead of following them, they want to allow liquor for some revenue,” the Mirwaiz said, taking potshots at Sadiq.

If the CM Omar Abdullah-led NC government cannot benefit the people, the Mirwaiz said, it should at least not harm the people.