JAMMU, Jul 11: Mission Statehood Jammu & Kashmir President Sunil Dimple on Saturday led a protest rally on Janipur High Court Road, demanding a complete ban on the sale of liquor across Jammu & Kashmir and calling for stronger action against drug peddlers and narcotics smuggling in the Union Territory.
Addressing the protesters, Dimple alleged that the increasing number of liquor outlets in Jammu city was adversely affecting society, particularly the youth. He claimed that around 300 wine shops had been opened in Jammu city, which, according to him, had contributed to rising alcohol consumption among young people.
Calling for immediate government intervention, Dimple urged Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to convene a Cabinet meeting and take a decision to prohibit the sale of liquor in Jammu & Kashmir.
“We will fully support every step towards banning liquor in Jammu & Kashmir. We are confident that the Lieutenant Governor and the Chief Minister will act without delay to shut down wine shops in Jammu, the city of temples, and impose a complete ban on liquor sale in the Union Territory,” Dimple said.
He warned that if the demand was ignored, Mission Statehood Jammu & Kashmir would intensify its agitation in the coming days until the government took concrete action.
Dimple also criticised the Bharatiya Janata Party, alleging that its 29 MLAs had failed to raise the issue of banning liquor sales in Jammu and had never demanded the closure of wine shops in the city.
During the protest, demonstrators raised slogans against drug abuse, drug trafficking, and liquor sales, urging the administration to take stringent measures to protect the younger generation from addiction.
Announcing the next phase of the campaign, Dimple said Mission Statehood Jammu & Kashmir would stage a protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on July 20, reiterating its demand for the restoration of Jammu & Kashmir’s statehood and the Dogra state’s identity.
Among those present during the protest were senior Mission Statehood leaders Mohinder Kumar, Vikas, Deepak, Dev Raj, Kala Kumar, Vipan, Mukesh, Rakesh Sharma, Ram Kumar Das, and several other party workers and supporters.