Protest in Jammu parts against opening of new liquor shops

SRINAGAR — The Jammu and Kashmir administration’s move to issue ‘The Draft Excise Policy Year 2021-2022’, which proposes an e-auction process for the approval of liquor shops, on Tuesday evoked sharp criticism and triggered protests in parts of Jammu region.

Eye-witnesses said that people from different areas of Jammu district were up in arms against the authorities for giving permission to open liquor shops near educational institutions and religious places.

Locals in Shakti Nagar, Trikuta Nagar and Gujjar Nagar areas staged protests against the proposal of opening new wine shops. The protestors were raising slogans like “Stop drinking, close liquor shops” and demanded cancellation of liquor licenses which are being opened near the residential areas, educational institutions and religious places of Jammu under the new Excise Policy.

Protestors said that alcohol is the root of all evils, so its sale and purchase should be banned at least near religious places and educational places besides residential areas.

They said that there are schools in Shakti Nagar area and there are temples too, so why would the administration allow opening of liquor shop in this area, when Jammu is known as the city of temples.

“The administration now is hell-bent on turning it into a liquor city,” they said, adding that the youth of Jammu are being lured towards drugs, which they won’t allow.

“Liquor stores are opened within every 10 meters of the temples, Gurdwaras and Graveyards, cremation ground. This is hurting the faith,” said a protestor, wishing not to be named. “We want to tell the management that we will not allow a single shop to open here.”

He said, “Our women-folk, especially school going girls, aren’t safe when liquor shops are being opened near educational institutions.”

A woman protestor said that when there would be sale of liquor, then a drunk person won’t understand anything about the chastity of women.

“By permitting opening of shops in residential areas, near educational institutions and religious places, government is hurting our faith, playing with our chastity and emotions,” said a group of protestors.

They requested concerned authorities to look into the matter at an earliest so that locals can heave a sigh of relief.