SRINAGAR: BJP Friday staged a protest outside J&K CM Omar Abdullah’s residence, demanding prohibition of liquor in Kashmir Valley.The party said it would launch protests from Qazigund town in south Kashmir to Karnah area on Line of Control in north Kashmir in the second phase of protests in near future if the National Conference govt failed to act.“BJP is against all kinds of drugs and alcohol consumption. The NC govt wants to push J&K’s youth toward alcohol consumption,” BJP’s Altaf Thakur told reporters outside the CM’s residence. “The way NC functionaries are making statements in support of liquor sale and consumption is not acceptable. Kashmir is the land of sages and we will not allow liquor shops in this land,” he said.BJP’s general secretary Anwar Khan, who also participated in the protest, said if the CM and NC president Farooq Abdullah were concerned about revenue generated through liquor sales, BJP workers would “sit outside mosques and beg for money” for the ruling party, but would not allow anyone to “play with the future of the youth”.Many BJP workers also questioned LG Manoj Sinha’s 100-day drive against drugs, wondering why liquor sale is not included in it.The police, however, swiftly acted against protesters and pushed them away from the CM’s residence.BJP spokesperson Sajid Yousuf Shah said at least 10 protesters, including himself, were detained by police but let off after an hour.On Sunday, CM Abdullah had rejected calls for prohibition in J&K, dismissing the opposition People’s Democratic Party’s argument that allowing liquor sales amounted to encouraging alcohol consumption.Following him, Farooq said his father, Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah, had refused to impose such a ban in 1977 as it generated substantial revenue for the UT (which was then a state). “Even today, if the Govt of India compensates us (for the revenue loss), I am sure (J&K) govt will ban liquor,” he had said.While Farooq claimed he did not drink, he added that banning liquor in J&K won’t stop tipplers from smuggling it from outside.LG Manoj Sinha had launched a 100-day drive against drugs on April 11, which led to demands from various quarters that it should be extended to liquor sales.NC spokesperson Imran Nabi Dar, meanwhile, said it was the PDP-BJP govt that pushed through an excise policy in 2017 mandating liquor shops in “unserved and underserved areas.”End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideos’Not An Iota Of Truth’: PM Modi Rubbishes Report Of Restriction On Foreign Travel28 Hostages From Kuki, Naga Communities Held By Armed Groups Released In Manipur’I Am Sorry To…’: Shashi Tharoor To Skip VD Satheesan’s Swearing-In As Kerala CMNEET UG 2026 Re-Exam On June 21, Computer-Based Test Format From Next Year: Education MinisterOman To Gujarat: India Fast-Tracks Deep-Sea Gas Pipeline Project Amid Hormuz CrisisCJI Surya Kant Makes Strong Remarks During Senior Advocate HearingKerala CM-Designate Satheesan Hits Back At BJP Over IUML, Secularism DebateFormer RAW Chief Flags Security Risks Over PM Modi’s Convoy DownsizingTMC MP Derek O’Brien Slams Centre After Petrol-Diesel Hike, Targets Modi Government’Bhojshala Complex Is A Temple, Hindus Have Right To Worship’: MP High Court123PhotostoriesKishwer Merchant recalls her father’s reaction to her interfaith marriage and age gap with Suyyash Rai; reacts to her son being trolled for wearing a skull capLauki vs Tori: Which has more nutrition for summer and 5 interesting ways to eat themAncient Kashmiri beauty secrets that are becoming popular again in IndiaFrom transparent bodies to underground lives: 5 bizarre frogs you’ve probably never heard of8 modern TV unit designs to instantly upgrade your living roomPersonality test: Mango, litchi, watermelon? Pick a fruit and see if you are a natural leader, kind, or creativeCannes 2026:Why Sanam Saeed’s Cannes debut is a major moment for Pakistani cinemaHow to grow butterfly-friendly native plants in Indian city home gardensNot just travel: 10 cheapest countries to retire in — 9 and 10 will surprise you5 adorable dog breeds that stay puppy-sized forever123Hot PicksCBSE class 12 resultUS Iran warPrateek YadavHaryana election resultForeign outflowNEET exam cancelledTamil Nadu assemblyTop TrendingNEET UG Re-Exam dateAdmit card indian army agniveer gdIPL Points TablePM ModiKerala Board SSLC Result 2026IPL 2026IPL Orange Cap 2026Bengaluru RapeWho is Shubham KhairnarIndia UA Trade Talk
SRINAGAR: BJP Friday staged a protest outside J&K CM Omar Abdullah’s residence, demanding prohibition of liquor in Kashmir Valley.The party said it would launch protests from Qazigund town in south Kashmir to Karnah area on Line of Control in north Kashmir in the second phase of protests in near future if the National Conference govt failed to act.“BJP is against all kinds of drugs and alcohol consumption. The NC govt wants to push J&K’s youth toward alcohol consumption,” BJP’s Altaf Thakur told reporters outside the CM’s residence. “The way NC functionaries are making statements in support of liquor sale and consumption is not acceptable. Kashmir is the land of sages and we will not allow liquor shops in this land,” he said.BJP’s general secretary Anwar Khan, who also participated in the protest, said if the CM and NC president Farooq Abdullah were concerned about revenue generated through liquor sales, BJP workers would “sit outside mosques and beg for money” for the ruling party, but would not allow anyone to “play with the future of the youth”.Many BJP workers also questioned LG Manoj Sinha’s 100-day drive against drugs, wondering why liquor sale is not included in it.The police, however, swiftly acted against protesters and pushed them away from the CM’s residence.BJP spokesperson Sajid Yousuf Shah said at least 10 protesters, including himself, were detained by police but let off after an hour.On Sunday, CM Abdullah had rejected calls for prohibition in J&K, dismissing the opposition People’s Democratic Party’s argument that allowing liquor sales amounted to encouraging alcohol consumption.Following him, Farooq said his father, Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah, had refused to impose such a ban in 1977 as it generated substantial revenue for the UT (which was then a state). “Even today, if the Govt of India compensates us (for the revenue loss), I am sure (J&K) govt will ban liquor,” he had said.While Farooq claimed he did not drink, he added that banning liquor in J&K won’t stop tipplers from smuggling it from outside.LG Manoj Sinha had launched a 100-day drive against drugs on April 11, which led to demands from various quarters that it should be extended to liquor sales.NC spokesperson Imran Nabi Dar, meanwhile, said it was the PDP-BJP govt that pushed through an excise policy in 2017 mandating liquor shops in “unserved and underserved areas.”
