Calls Intensify for Dry State Status in Jammu and Kashmir

In Jammu and Kashmir, lawmakers are pushing for a ban on alcohol with three MLAs submitting private bills to declare it a dry state. The issue has gained momentum due to the harms caused by alcohol consumption and its easy availability. The bills will be discussed in the upcoming legislative session.

In a significant move, the call to declare Jammu and Kashmir as a dry state is gaining traction with at least three MLAs leading the charge by submitting private members' bills aimed at banning alcohol in the Union Territory.

Mir Mohammad Fayaz from the People's Democratic Party (PDP), Sheikh Khursheed Ahmad of the Awami Ittehad Party (AIP), and Ahsan Pardesi from the ruling National Conference (NC), have each submitted individual bills advocating for an alcohol ban, which are slated for discussion in the forthcoming session of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly.

Advocates for the ban, such as PDP leader Iltija Mufti, argue the pervasive availability and consumption of alcohol are damaging the social fabric of the region. AIP, with a mission led by Engineer Rashid, is also tackling issues like online gaming. Meanwhile, the cultural and religious ethos of Kashmir stand at the forefront of this legislative push.