Jammu and Kashmir leaders ask Omar Abdullah government to follow steps of Tamil Nadu CM Vijay on liquor ban

The controversy over the liquor issue showed no signs of dying down in Kashmir on Tuesday (May 12, 2026) as the ruling National Conference (NC) president, Dr. Farooq Abdullah, expressed an inability to completely ban the sale of liquor because of the revenue factor. Meanwhile, Opposition parties, including J&K Apni Party and Kashmir chief cleric Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, asked the government to follow Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Joseph Vijay’s steps. 

To make a point on how it was not an easy move to ban liquor in J&K, Mr. Abdullah referred to former Prime Minister Morarji Desai’s visit to J&K and his advocacy to ban liquor in J&K in the 1970s. “Mr. Desai was known for supporting prohibition. My father, Sheikh Abdullah, then Chief Minister, replied that he could consider stopping liquor sales if the Centre compensated the resulting revenue loss,” said Mr. Abdullah.

He said if the Central government still agrees to compensate for the revenue losses, the J&K government “can stop it in two minutes”.

Several Opposition parties, including Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), J&K Apni Party and Kashmir chief cleric Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, have sought a blanket ban on sale of liquor in J&K. They also criticised J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s statement that “no one was dragging youth into consuming liquor”. 

Responding to the criticism, Dr. Addullah said, “Alcohol consumption cannot be stopped merely through restrictions. Those who intend to drink would find ways to procure it even if a ban is in place.”

Questioning those who are protesting against liquor shops, Dr. Abdullah said, “Why were they silent when such outlets were being opened across different areas in the past? We did not open liquor shops. Those who opened them are now raising their voices.”

Follow Vijay’s steps: J&K leaders

Meanwhile, J&K Apni Party president Altaf Bukhari asked the Omar Abdullah government to take a cue from the Tamil Nadu government. “Tamil Nadu’s newly-elected Chief Minister Joseph Vijay has shown what true public leadership looks like. His decisions clearly reflect the will and emotions of the people who elected him. Just two days after being sworn in as Chief Minister, he ordered the closure of 717 liquor shops located near temples, schools, and bus stands across the state,” said Mr. Bukhari.

He said CM Vijay’s decision should serve as an eye-opener for our government here in Jammu and Kashmir. “Unfortunately, our political parties are indulging in a blame game. The ruling NC says that even the PDP refused to ban liquor when it was in power. That may be true, but it does not mean that the NC, which has received a huge public mandate this time, should also follow PDP’s path,” said Mr. Bukhari.

Kashmir chief cleric the Mirwaiz said Jammu and Kashmir was a Muslim-majority region and alcohol consumption “is socially and religiously discouraged”. “Several states in India with non-Muslim majorities have also imposed restrictions or bans on alcohol due to its damaging impact on society. The first step by the new government in Tamil Nadu was to close down 700 liquor shops,” said the Mirwaiz.

Demanding a complete ban on alcohol, the Mirwaiz said, “The ongoing campaign against drug networks will not yield the desired results if action is not also taken against liquor, which is also destroying families.”