Mirwaiz calls move a cultural assault on Kashmir, urges authorities to take action
Srinagar, July 4(KNS): The local traders and business owners of Batamaloo have announced that all shops and commercial establishments in the area will remain closed for three days starting from July 4, 2025, in protest against the opening of a liquor shop in the locality.
The decision was made by the presidents of various market associations, including street vendors, who expressed concerns over the potential negative social and cultural impacts of a liquor outlet in the area.
A notice issued by the Shopkeepers Association Batamaloo Market highlights the community's discontent and calls for immediate intervention from the authorities.
The business owners have requested the concerned authorities to take appropriate action to address the issue, underlining the significance of preserving the local cultural fabric.
Reacting to the protest, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, addressing the congregation at Jama Masjid, expressed his concerns about the opening of liquor shops in Kashmir. In his khutba, he condemned the move, calling it "disturbing and totally unacceptable" to the people of Kashmir.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel
In a statement issued to KNS, Mirwaiz stated, "It is an assault on our religious, cultural, and societal ethos, and a complete disregard for it. This is a deliberate attempt to harm our people and future generations." He also raised concerns about the rising drug addiction in the region and the negative impact of promoting liquor as a further threat to societal values.
He pointed out that J&K, being a Muslim-majority state, had cultural and religious values that strictly oppose the consumption of liquor. "Why promote liquor in J&K when it is prohibited in states like Gujarat? Tourism in Kashmir has flourished without the need for liquor sales," Mirwaiz added.
Mirwaiz urged the government, specifically former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, to intervene immediately and stop such initiatives, emphasizing the duty of the authorities to protect the region's values.
He warned that if the government failed to act, the ulemas, civil society, and the public would have no option but to protest against this decision.(KNS).