PDP launches signature campaign to garner support for complete ban on liquor in J&K

Srinagar: People's Democratic Party (PDP) Saturday launched a signature campaign here to garner support for a complete ban on liquor in Jammu and Kashmir.

The signature campaign, aimed to garner support for a bill proposed by the party MLA Mir Mohammad Fayaz that seeks a complete ban on liquor in the union territory, was launched by party leader Iltija Mufti at the PDP head office here.

Mufti was scheduled to kick-start the party's campaign at Sher-e-Kashmir Park, however, the police did not allow them to reach the venue and the campaign was launched at the party office instead.

"We are here for a serious issue. Drugs and alcohol are spreading like wildfire. PDP MLA from Kupwara has introduced a bill in the J-K assembly seeking a ban on alcohol. We have started the signature campaign from the PDP office," Mufti told reporters after launching the campaign.

She said the consumption of drugs and liquor is affecting the moral fabric of society.

"Our aim is to create an awareness against drugs. In the last few years, many liquor shops have come up in J-K and alcohol is freely available. We appeal to the public to support this campaign," she added.

Appealing to the other political parties to support the PDP's bill, Mufti said it was not a political issue, but a social one.

"I hope the other parties support us. I hope NC, PC and BJP as well support this bill as this is not a political issue, but a social issue. There is huge unemployment in J-K and the youth feel helpless as a result of which they are consuming alcohol and drugs," she said.

Referring to the huge presence of police outside the party office, the PDP leader said "We are not here to do any untoward incident, we do not want to create law and order (issue)".

"We are just here to appeal to the people to say no to drugs and no to alcohol. I appeal to the people to come here and support this signature campaign and lend their support. Alcohol is a serious issue here and it needs to be prohibited. I seek a complete ban on selling and consumption of alcohol and drugs," she said.

Mufti appealed to the UT and the Central governments to make J-K an alcohol-free region.

"The way Bihar, Gujarat, and Nagaland have been made alcohol-free states and it has nothing to do with tourism, similarly, we advocate to make J-K an alcohol-free state," she added.