Srinagar (OnlyKashmir): Amid sloganeering against the administration, a large number of youth on Monday assembled in Press Colony to protest against the opening of liquor shops in Dalgate area of Srinagar City.
Suspecting a possible negative impact on society, the protestors demanded the closure of all liquor shops on Boulevard Road and Sonwar.
Pertinently, Hindu, Muslim, and Sikh joint protests were witnessed in nook and corner of the Jammu city last month wherein reportedly many liquor shops were allowed by the government close to residential areas, temples, mosques, and schools.
The protesters who assembled at Press Colony Srinagar said Government wants to make the abode of saints a liquor hub by granting licenses for the sale of liquor, adding, most recently while trampling the religious and cultural ethos of Kashmir valley a liquor shop was allowed to run near Hotel Welcome at boulevard road.
The protestors said that for the last one week we have been appealing to authorities through media to close the liquir shop, however, till the date, government is tightlipped which is worrisome. The protesting people at all the places have demanded that the Lieutenant Governor should intervene in the matter and direct the concerned department to close the wine shops especially close to residential areas, temples, mosques, and schools.
The residents of these areas are alleging that Excise Department and liquor mafia are having hand in glove as the former has failed to obtain a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the people living in the areas, where the wine shops are to be opened.
Pertinent to mention here, since the new Excise policy came into existence a number of wine shops have been given nod by the government especially in Jammu province.
When contacted, Rahul Sharma Excise Commissioner, Jammu and Kashmir said, “We have nothing to say on the protests as respective district magistrates have issued No Objection Certificates (NOC) to new license holders.”
