PDP launched signature campaign for total ban on alcohol in Jammu and Kashmir and appealed for support from other political parties.
Srinagar: People’s Democratic Party on Saturday launched a signature campaign to garner support for total ban on alcohol in Jammu and Kashmir. The campaign is aimed at getting support for the bill introduced by party MLA Mir Mohammad Fayaz, which seeks total ban on alcohol in Jammu and Kashmir. The campaign was launched by party leader Iltija Mufti at PDP office.
Earlier Iltija Mufti was to launch the campaign at Sher-e-Kashmir Park but police did not allow her to reach there, after which the campaign was started from the party office.
Mufti told reporters after the launch of the campaign, “We have come here to talk about a serious issue. Drugs and alcohol are spreading like fire. The PDP MLA from Kupwara has introduced a bill in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly to ban alcohol.” We have started the signature campaign from the party office.
Drug and alcohol consumption is affecting the moral fabric of the society. Our aim is to spread awareness against drug abuse. In the last few years, the number of liquor shops has increased in Jammu and Kashmir and alcohol is easily available. We appeal to the public to support this campaign.
Mufti also appealed to other political parties to support the PDP bill. She said that this is not a political issue but a social issue. I hope other parties like NC, PC and BJP will also support us as it is a social issue. There is a lot of unemployment in Jammu and Kashmir and it is affecting the young generation, due to which they are consuming alcohol and drugs.
The PDP leader also commented on the police deployment outside the party office and said that we have not come here to create any chaos. We have just come to appeal to the people to stay away from drugs and alcohol. I appeal to the public to support this signature campaign and participate in it. Alcohol is a serious issue and it should be banned. I demand a complete ban on the sale and consumption of alcohol and drugs.
Mufti appealed to make Jammu and Kashmir an alcohol-free zone and said that just like Bihar, Gujarat and Nagaland have been made alcohol-free states and it has nothing to do with tourism, in the same way we also advocate to make Jammu and Kashmir an alcohol-free state.