Omar Abdullah’s ‘liquor consumption religion-centric’ comment sparks debate

SRINAGAR: Chief minister Omar Abdullah Monday kicked off a controversy with his comment linking alcohol consumption to religion, while defending J&K’s liquor policy. Liquor shops in the UT are meant for those whose faith allowed them to drink, he said, stressing that not introducing prohibition did not mean govt wanted to encourage alcohol consumption.

“First of all, these liquor shops are for people whose religion allows them to consume alcohol. Secondly, no govt in J&K has banned these shops. It does not mean we want their use to increase. Only those whose religion permits alcohol consumption should use them. Our religion does not allow it and we do not want people to move towards that path,” the CM said, explaining his earlier statement that nobody was forced to consume alcohol.

Omar’s statement has come at a time when LG Manoj Sinha has launched a 100-day ‘Nasha Mukt J&K’ campaign against drugs, with demands from several quarters that it should be extended to liquor as well.

Stating that his govt had taken steps to ensure youth did not take to alcohol consumption, Omar said: “First, we did not open any new liquor shops. Second, our consistent effort was to ensure that no shop was located in a place where it could encourage our youth to take the wrong path.”

On Sunday, when asked why liquor shops were left untouched despite the LG’s anti-drug campaign, the CM said: “Has anyone forced you to drink? You are going to liquor shops by your own choice. We are not dragging you there. We are not even advertising liquor sales. Our govt has not increased the number of alcohol shops.”

Coming under fire from PDP over his refusal to ban liquor shops, Omar questioned why the party did not bring in prohibition when it was in power. “What I said yesterday (Sunday) was also stated on record in the Assembly by the finance minister of the PDP (govt),” he added.

Reacting to the CM’s comments, PDP’s Iltija Mufti said his claim lacked logic as Hindu majority states like Gujarat and Bihar had banned alcohol. “It is unfortunate that as the chief minister of a Muslim-majority region, where the overwhelming majority of the population is Muslim, he does not respect their values and sensibilities,” Iltija added.

Even Omar’s party colleague and National Conference MP Aga Ruhullah favoured a ban, stating that shutting shops would automatically block access to alcohol.

In response to Iltija’s statement, NC insisted that the CM didn’t refer to any religion. A National Conference spokesperson also stated that PDP had earlier opposed liquor ban.