The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Kashmir Unit on Friday announced a protest march in Srinagar against the operation of wine shops in the Kashmir Valley and demanded a complete ban on the sale and purchase of liquor across the Kashmir Division.
According to the statement issued by the party’s Co-Media incharge J&K Sajid Yusuf Shah, the protest will also be directed against the ruling National Conference for allegedly defending and promoting the sale of alcohol in the region.
As per the programme, BJP leaders and workers will assemble at Ram Munshibagh, Sonwar, at 10:00 AM and march towards the residence of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah at Gupkar.
The party said the protest aims to raise public sentiment against liquor sales in Kashmir.
The move from BJP comes days after Chief Minister Omar Abdullah stated that his government was not planning to expand liquor outlets in Jammu and Kashmir, but maintained that an outright ban on alcohol was not practically possible at present.
He had said that liquor was already being consumed in the region and questioned whether people wanted it to be sold openly under regulation or pushed underground through illegal channels. (JKNS)