In a letter dated 16 June to the Financial Commissioner, the Excise Commissioner of Jammu and Kashmir Union Territory attached a list of a total of 183 unserved locations of the union territory, where liquor shops are proposed to be set up. Out of these 183 locations, 116 are in Jammu, while 67 in Kashmir. This proposal and the attached area list has now snowballed into a major controversy in the valley, as Islamists have come out of their closets to oppose the move on religious lines as if Kashmir is a sovereign Sharia state within the Union of India.
Religious organizations, self-proclaimed NGOs, and redundant social media platforms claiming to represent the people of Kashmir have all ganged up to somehow stall the opening of liquor stores in the unserved areas of the union territory. ‘Stand With Kashmir’, a supposed Left-leaning social media platform has exposed itself as just any other Islamist, dragging the trump card of “Muslims are in danger” to oppose the move.
Colonial regimes make sure that intoxicants are widely available to native populations, in an attempt to get people “addicted” and distract them from their political conditions. The Indian army has done this by making drugs widely available to the youth in #Kashmir. Now, alcohol.
— StandWithKashmir (@standwkashmir) June 20, 2020
It must be remembered that consumption of alcohol is haram in Islam, and this particular tenet is forming the crux of majority of the opposition which the move is facing. Those pretending to be rebels from Kashmir fighting the terrible Indian state have now been exposed to be not more than mediocre Islamists, radicalized to the core. Interestingly, the narrative of their community, as usual, being in an ever-existential state of threat has also been brought up, and many have suggested that the move of the government to open liquor stores in Kashmir is being done to change the demography of the valley, if that makes any sense. Such logic itself proves that many in the valley are already intoxicated.
Intoxicated by radicalism and hatred for India, not to mention, Hindus, Islamists are fuming against the idea of liquor stores as if they are guns and grenades! What kind of Azadi have they imagined for themselves?
Opening hundreds of liquor shops is another sign of development in Kashmir after abrogating A-370. This once again proves that govt. agencies are pushing youth towards drugs and alcoholism, just to divert their attention from other real issues.
— Aarif Shah (@aarifshaah) June 20, 2020
BJP’s new plan in Kashmir is to engage youth into drugs & alcohol. By giving nod to open new wine shops, their aim is to destroy our culture & future. We must strongly oppose thz move & not allow any wine shop to open. This will ruin the lives of youth! #NoToLiquorShopsInKashmir
— Salman Nizami (@SalmanNizami_) June 20, 2020
For all its troubles, liquor is one evil Kashmir valley is relatively free from.
Opening liquor vends is an invitation to mafia, domestic violence, social anomie.
Why this “gift”?
This order must be withdrawn. pic.twitter.com/RwSnYA4ot0— Yogendra Yadav (@_YogendraYadav) June 21, 2020
In the midst of pandemic, the Indian government finds it an utmost priority to identity 67 locations in #Kashmir where they plan to set up liquor shops. Making liquor widely available is another attempt to humiliate Kashmiri Muslim sentiments. #banliqourinkashmir
— khalid sheikh (@khalidsheikh05) June 21, 2020
This lady, perhaps bearing true faith to her beliefs, called upon Kashmiris to burn all new liquor shops which come up in the valley.
I don’t care if JK Police will arrest me or Kill me for this post, but I want to tell every Kashmiri to stay ready and burn-up every new Alcohol (Liquor) shop if opened anywhere in Kashmir valley.#BurnLiquorShopsInKasmir
— Raheela Majid (@RaheelaMajid) June 20, 2020
Vidya Krishnan, alleged health journalist, was particularly disturbed at the prospect of new liquor stores being set up in the valley. Perhaps Krishnan, working for the Caravan, deems it fit only for the drug of Islamism to intoxicate Kashmiris.
This is a scandal.
I cant help but feel this is being deliberately done to add insult to injury, & find more reason to take Kashmiri lives.
Imagine opening a liquor store outside Sabarimala or Vaishno Devi. https://t.co/lEbm4g3smL
— Vidya (@VidyaKrishnan) June 20, 2020
This is beyond the pale, even for this dishonourable govt. https://t.co/ropNqvSTYQ
— Vidya (@VidyaKrishnan) June 20, 2020
Is it a coincidence that champagne socialists are somehow the first to oppose the J&K administration’s proposal to open liquor stores in Jammu and Kashmir? However, the authorities have now rolled back their proposal, which by the way was said to be a “matter of policy” in its 16 June letter. Now, the same administration has taken a complete U-turn, saying that no such proposals are under consideration, and that no policy decision has been taken on the matter. This comes after pressure groups and NGOs, and also Islamic groups, threatened to protest the move. And we all know how protests are in Kashmir.