Ahsan Pardesi, an NC MLA, has introduced a private member bill in the Assembly seeking a ban on alcohol in Kashmir and other Muslim-majority areas of Jammu and Kashmir. He argues that alcohol consumption contradicts the region’s cultural and religious values, particularly its Sufi-Reshi traditions.
Pardesi believes that easy access to alcohol contributes to crime, moral decline, and addiction, especially among the youth, at a time when drug abuse is already a major concern. He also pointed out that residents of Lal Chowk have repeatedly expressed concerns over the high number of liquor shops in their area compared to the rest of Kashmir.
The bill, spanning eight pages, is expected to be discussed in the upcoming Assembly session. It remains to be seen how the government responds to the proposal.
