Suhail Bhat
Srinagar, May 12: National Conference (NC) president Dr Farooq Abdullah today said the Jammu and Kashmir Government could ban alcohol “in two minutes” if the Centre compensated the Union Territory for the resulting revenue losses.
Speaking amid the ongoing controversy over liquor outlets in Jammu and Kashmir, Abdullah said he does not consume alcohol but those determined to drink alcohol would find ways to procure it even if sales were banned locally.
“I don’t drink alcohol. Those who drink alcohol will drink. If they do not get it here, they will get it from abroad,” Abdullah told reporters.
Referring to a past conversation involving his father, former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Sheikh Abdullah, and former Prime Minister Morarji Desai, Abdullah said, “I remember when my father won the election in 1977, Morarji Desai came as Prime Minister. He was against alcohol. He asked my father to stop it. My father said, ‘If you give us the revenue that we earn, then we will stop it,” he said.
”Even today, if the centre helps and compensates the revenue, the Government will stop it in two minutes,” he added. Click here to watch video
The NC Chief also hit back at critics raising objections over liquor outlets, saying the shops had not been opened by his party and questioning why objections were not raised earlier when outlets were opening “in every village.” “They are ready to criticise. They think we are afraid of them. We will give them such a defeat that they will remember,” he said.
Commenting on the broader economic situation, Abdullah warned of a looming global crisis driven by tensions in West Asia. “The oil crisis and gas crisis are coming and we are heading towards destruction. If the war between Iran and America does not end, only God knows what will happen to us,” he said.
Responding to a question on Prime Minister Narendra Modi urging people to return to work-from-home and adopt online classes to reduce fuel consumption amid the ongoing energy crisis, he said, ”Education is necessary. We will have to think about it and find a way because there is no online education here. Online education is not possible,” Abdullah said.
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