Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, May 15: The police today foiled a protest march by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) here and detained half a dozen party leaders who were attempting to march toward the residence of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to press for a complete ban on liquor sales in Jammu and Kashmir.
Scores of BJP workers assembled on Srinagar’s Gupkar Road, carrying banners and placards against the operation of wine shops in Kashmir. Protesters raised slogans against the ruling National Conference government, accusing it of promoting alcohol consumption in the region.
The march began from Ram Munshi Bagh in Sonwar and moved toward Gupkar Road, where the Chief Minister’s residence is located. Police intercepted the protesters en route and prevented them from proceeding further. Several BJP leaders were detained during the protest, including Altaf Thakur, Sahil Bhat, Sajid Yousuf Shah, Arif Raja and Anwar Khan.
BJP state spokesperson Manzoor Bhat said the party was demanding an immediate prohibition on liquor sales, alleging that alcohol addiction was destroying the younger generation. “The youth are getting addicted to alcohol. Earlier, people were dying because of bullets; now they are dying because of drugs and alcohol,” Bhat told reporters during the protest.
He said the campaign against liquor was aimed at protecting society and urged religious leaders and civil society groups to support the demand for prohibition.
Bhat also criticized the Omar-led government for ignoring public sentiment on the issue and warned that the BJP would intensify its agitation if liquor sales continued.
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