SRINAGAR: National Conference president Farooq Abdullah stated on Tuesday that the Jammu and Kashmir administration could enact a ban on alcohol within two minutes if the Union government provided compensation for the resultant revenue loss.
Information was available with The Chenab Times that Abdullah, addressing the ongoing debate surrounding liquor outlets, personally abstains from alcohol but asserted that individuals who consume it would likely procure it from outside the Union Territory if local availability ceased. He questioned the sincerity of those opposing liquor sales by asking them to identify who the actual consumers are.
Recalling a similar situation from 1977, Abdullah recounted how the then Prime Minister Morarji Desai had urged his father, Sheikh Abdullah, to halt alcohol sales in Jammu and Kashmir. His father, the former Chief Minister, had reportedly responded by stating that the state would cease sales only if the Centre reimbursed the revenue generated from them, a condition that was not met.
Abdullah reiterated that if the Centre were to compensate for the lost revenue today, the Jammu and Kashmir government possessed the capability to ban alcohol sales swiftly. He further argued that the issue was being politicised by opposing parties, questioning why there was no significant opposition when liquor shops were established previously.
“We did not open liquor stores. Those who opened them, why did nobody raise their voice then? Shops were opening in every village,” Abdullah remarked, seemingly directing his criticism towards the People’s Democratic Party. He accused them of raising the issue solely to target the current administration and expressed confidence in overcoming their opposition.
A political controversy had recently ignited in Jammu and Kashmir following remarks made by then Chief Minister Omar Abdullah regarding alcohol consumption. PDP leader Iltija Mufti had criticized the Chief Minister for seemingly disregarding the sensitivities of the Muslim-majority region. Omar Abdullah had previously stated that no one was compelled to consume alcohol and that individuals visited liquor shops by choice. These comments had drawn criticism from opposition parties and segments of the public, prompting the Chief Minister to later clarify that his remarks were being misrepresented by political adversaries.
Abdullah also expressed concerns about the escalating fuel and gas crisis, linking it to ongoing tensions between Iran and the United States. He commented on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s appeal for austerity, suggesting that the nation was heading towards a precarious situation due to the growing international crisis.
Furthermore, Abdullah highlighted the limitations of online education for economically disadvantaged sections of society. He lamented the inaccessibility of online learning for impoverished families, emphasizing that while education is crucial, online platforms are not a feasible solution for all. He stressed the imperative to develop alternative strategies to ensure that education does not falter, particularly for underprivileged students.
Warning of severe economic repercussions should the geopolitical conflict escalate further, Abdullah stated that the consequences could be devastating. He cautioned that if the crisis and the potential war between Iran and the United States do not resolve, the future outlook for the region would be highly uncertain.
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The Chenab Times News Desk
