The Mutahida Majlis-e-Ulema (MMU), Jammu and Kashmir’s largest religious body, on Tuesday strongly condemned National Conference legislator Hasnain Masoodi’s remarks justifying liquor sales in the union territory for revenue, calling them “reckless and deeply unfortunate.”
The MMU, led by Kashmir’s chief cleric Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, demanded that the ruling National Conference must clarify its stance and urged immediate steps toward a complete prohibition of alcohol in Jammu and Kashmir.
On Monday, NC MLA Masoodi reportedly said that a complete ban on liquor in Jammu and Kashmir could adversely impact tourism and government revenues.
A day after his remark, MMU- the largest religious body of J&K and headed by Kashmir’s chief cleric Mirwaiz Umar Farooq- lashed out at the ML, who is a former judge.
The spokesperson of MMU said that such remarks were deeply unfortunate when there are clear Islamic prohibition on intoxicants, and it is fundamentally at odds with the values and beliefs of Islam.
“It also ignores the grave social consequences that liquor consumption has in general on families and society, including domestic distress, financial hardship, and moral degradation,” the spokesman said.
He added said that such justification coming from a political party that claims to upholding the ethos, culture, and identity of Kashmir, is both disappointing and disturbing.
MMU stressed that economic considerations cannot be placed above moral, social, and human well-being, and that justifying liquor on revenue grounds reflects a troubling approach to governance.
Calling it a well-known menace that steadily erodes the moral and social fabric of society, MMU asked the ruling party to come clean on the matter and immediately take concrete steps towards a complete ban on liquor in Jammu and Kashmir and strict punishment to those involved in its smuggling, in the larger interest of society and the future of Jammu and Kashmir.
Incidentally, a law maker from the ruling NC has submitted a Private Member Bill in the Assembly, seeking complete ban on the sale and consumption of liquor in the entire union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
There are other Bills also on liquor prohibition that would likely be taken up in the ongoing Budget session of Assembly.
