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| As tourist destination Kashmir cannot afford ban on liquor trade | | | When in early 80's a demand was
raised on the floor of the State Leg-
islature and in various parts of the Kashmir valley for imposing a blanket ban on sale and consumption of liquor the then Chief Minister, Sheikh Abdullah, had stated that for ensuring ban on consumption of liquor it was necessary to develop temperament for it. He had also stated that since the Kashmir valley was a vital tourist destination for excursionists from within India and abroad imposing ban on sale of liquor could prove counter productive. It could force the State of Jammu and Kashmir to lose a big chunk of revenue from tourism sector. In fact Sheikh Abdullah was right in his assessment because most of the tourists visiting Kashmir may stop visiting the valley when they are told that sale of liquor is banned in Kashmir. Several thousand families in Kashmir, including hoteliers, houseboat owners, traders, ponywallas, porters and transporters depend on the tourism sector for their livelihood and survival. And once the valley registers slump in tourist arrivals because of ban on liquor sale it could impose heavy losses to all those connected with tourism sector.
But there are people in Kashmir, particularly the extremists and fundamentalists, who want a blanket ban on sale of liquor.In this connection the Jammu and Kashmir High Court has taken cognizance of a PIL filed challenging open sale of liquor in Kashmir. Accordingly the High Court on has issued a notice to the Government over a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking blanket ban on sale of alcohol in the Muslim-majority State. Reports said that the court asked the State Government to file status report regarding the steps taken for closure of liquor shops situated near highways, hospitals, educational institutions and religious places. The PIL has been filed by Sheikh Ghulam Rasool, Chairman of a religious organization Karwan-e-Islami. He had submitted that the State Government has failed to take necessary steps for prohibition of sale and consumption of liquor. Through his petition, Sheikh Ghulam Rasool has said that section 24 of the Constitution of Jammu and Kashmir provides that the State shall make every effort to safeguard and promote the health of the people. This section, according to Sheikh Ghulam Rasool, imposes obligation on the State to curb sale and consumption of liquor, which is responsible for deterioration of public health.
Yes, is it possible for the State Government to check bootlegging in case a ban was imposed on sale of liquor? Certainly not because one has Gujarat model in view where years ago the State Government had imposed ban on sale and consumption of liquor. And those who are keen to have a drink or two or who are eager for a booze do find routes for smuggling liquor for their consumption. The Court or the Government could impose ban on sale of liquor but the two cannot impose any ban on consumption of liquor. Even if the Government imposes ban on consumption of liquor a large section of people may easily violate the ban by procuring liquor either from neighbouring states or from traditional liquor smugglers. It was in this context that Sheikh Abdullah had pleaded in favour of ban on liquor trade in neighbouring states because he knew it better than anybody else that if there was no ban on sale of liquor in states like Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh it could encourage bootlegging in Jammu and Kashmir. Is it a step to counter Court order on imposing ban on sale, slaughter and consumption of beef ?It seems so because even in a state of Maharshtra where ban on sale of beef during Jain festival was imposed groups of Muslims had demanded ban on liquor sale during the month of Ramzan. Well one would appreciate judicial activism but there should be some limit to it because the honourable judges need to take into account political, religious fallout on certain issues that have religious tones. |
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