Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Feb 26: Mutahida Majlis-e-Ulma (MMU) today termed the Government’s decision of giving licenses for opening up more wine shops in J&K as “unacceptable” while stating that the move puts a big question mark over the Government’s resolve to fight the drug menace.
The MMU also demanded immediate reopening of Jamia Masjid for Friday prayers and the release of Mirwaiz Umar Farooq who as per MMU is under house arrest since August 2019.
Addressing a press conference here, MMU’s Maulana Rehmatuallah told reporters said that the wine is the root of all the evils and if the Government has decided to ensure the establishment of more such shops in J&K, “then that is a big question mark over the efforts of the administration aimed at tackling the drug menace,” he said.
He said that the Government is trying to address the drug menace, but at the same time issuing more licenses for wine shops, “if does not go well, MMU expresses dismay over the move,” he said.
On the continuous closure of Jamia Masjid for Friday congregational prayers, Maulana said that they fail to understand what is stopping the administration from allowing the reopening of the historical Jamia Masjid when all other major mosques are operational.
“There are sentiments of people associated with the Jamia Masjid and keeping it closed for people does not go well. We don’t know what is stopping them from reopening Jamia Masjid while other major mosques such as Hazratbal which witnesses large congregations remain functional,” he said.
He also urged the administration to allow Mirwaiz Umar Farooq to offer Friday congregational prayers at Jamia Masjid.
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