Anti-drug drive won't yield results if liquor menace ignored: Mirwaiz

Kashmir's chief cleric Mirwaiz Umar Farooq on Monday (May 11, 2026) said the ongoing anti-drug campaign won't achieve the desired results unless action is also taken against liquor, which he said was equally harmful to society and destroying families.

Talking to reporters on the sidelines of an event here, the Mirwaiz said the campaign against drugs should not be "region-biased" and reiterated his concerns regarding the growing menace of drug addiction and the need for a ban on alcohol.

"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," he said.

"Besides, the drug campaign should not be region-biased and cause harassment to the family members by home demolitions for the actions of one individual," he added.

Stressing that both drugs and alcohol posed a serious threat to society, the Mirwaiz said the government could not justify taking action against one while remaining silent on the other.

"Although Jammu and Kashmir is a Muslim-majority region where alcohol consumption is socially and religiously discouraged, several States in India with non-Muslim majorities have imposed restrictions or bans on alcohol because of its damaging impact on society.

"The first step by the new government in Tamil Nadu was to close down 700 liquor shops," he said.