Srinagar, Oct 17 (KNS): Senior PDP Leader and additional Spokesperson Rouf Bhat demanded that the J&K government's approval of the sale of beer at departmental stores be revoked.
The statement issued to Kashmir News Service (KNS), reads: Referring to the spiritual heritage of Jammu and Kashmir, Bhat stated that Kashmir is the home of Sufis and saints while Jammu is the spiritual home of Mata Vaishno Devi and a city of temples.
According to Bhat, allowing the sale of beer and other alcoholic beverages in department stores in urban areas is an attack on Jammu and Kashmir's spiritual legacy.
Bhat criticised the government order, terming it as anti-youth that exposed the BJP government's dual nature, which on the one hand made a show of being "Nasha Muqt J&K" by beating their chests about being the protectors of J&K's youth while, on the other, allowing easy access to intoxicants at departmental stores through their orders.
Bhat urged the government to avoid issuing any more anti-social orders that will only encourage youth to become more addicted and cause them more harm. He also demanded that this order be repealed immediately.
"The order is in contradiction to the government’s drugs free J&K. At one hand government is campaign for drugs free Kashmir on another hand they are promoting bear /Alcoholic chemicals in all markets,." Statement reads.(KNS)