J&K CM Omar’s Liquor Defence Draws Fire From PDP And NC’s Aga Ruhullah As War Of Words Escalates

Last Updated:May 12, 2026, 14:42 IST

The controversy has also revived an old video of CM Abdullah before the Assembly elections, widely circulating on social media, in which he had criticised the rise in liquor shops

The political controversy over liquor sales in Jammu and Kashmir has intensified after Chief Minister Omar Abdullah defended the government’s stand on alcohol shops, triggering sharp reactions from opposition parties.

The row erupted after CM Abdullah, while speaking to reporters in his home constituency Ganderbal on Sunday, said that “no one is being forced to consume" and questioned why people voluntarily visit liquor shops. He also stated that the present government was neither advertising liquor nor increasing its availability in Jammu and Kashmir.

As criticism mounted, CM Abdullah on Monday attempted to clarify his remarks. He said that it was a mistake to speak with the media on issues that required detailed answers. Due to time constraints, he said he could not elaborate properly. He claimed that his remarks had been “twisted" by opposition parties.

He asserted that the government had not opened any new liquor outlets and said, “Our religion prohibits it. We don’t want our youth to fall prey to it." He added that liquor shops cater to communities whose religions permit alcohol consumption.

The controversy has also revived an old video of Omar Abdullah from before the Assembly elections, now widely circulating on social media, in which he had criticised the rise in liquor shops in Kashmir.

In the video, Omar is heard saying that during the last ten years, “youngsters got nothing except liquor shops and drugs," while accusing the administration of allowing alcohol outlets to mushroom. The video is now being juxtaposed with his latest statement.

PDP leader Iltija Mufti launched a scathing attack on the Chief Minister during a press conference and through social media posts. She termed Omar Abdullah’s position an “expected U-turn" and questioned his argument that banning alcohol would affect communities whose religion permits drinking.

Iltija said if that logic was valid, then how had Hindu-majority states like Gujarat and Bihar successfully implemented liquor bans. She further accused the Chief Minister of being insensitive towards the religious sentiments of the Muslim-majority population of Jammu and Kashmir while claiming that the National Conference had changed its stand after elections.

National Conference leader and MLA Tanvir Sadiq accused the PDP of hypocrisy in its demand for a liquor ban in Jammu and Kashmir. In a sharp jibe, Tanvir Sadiq said it was “very rich" coming from a party that had earlier opposed a liquor ban in the name of a “free world." He further pointed out that PDP’s founder, the late Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, had himself publicly spoken about his drinking habits.

His own party disgruntled Member of Parlianment, Aga Ruhullah, opposed Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and criticised his remarks, saying Kashmiris do not consume alcohol.

“There maybe a few among a lakh population consuming it but we want these shop to be closed so that the person doesn’t go that way. It’s very simple to understand," he said while addressing a gathering.

NC president Farooq Abdullah weighed in on the ongoing liquor controversy in Jammu and Kashmir, saying those who consume alcohol would continue to do so even if shops were shut.

“Those who drink will continue to drink. They’ll get it from outside. Those questioning it today — ask them who drinks?" he said.

Recalling a past conversation involving former Prime Minister Morarji Desai and his father Sheikh Abdullah, Farooq said, “When my father won the election, Morarji Desai had come to Kashmir when he was the Prime Minister. Desai was against alcohol. He asked my father to close the alcohol shops. My father said: Give me the revenue that I get from alcohol, and I’ll shut them."

He also questioned opposition parties for not protesting when liquor shops were originally opened in the region.

The issue has gained wider political and religious attention amid the ongoing “Nasha Mukt J&K" campaign against drugs. Religious leaders including Grand Mufti Mufti Nasir-ul-Islam and Hurriyat chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq have also demanded a complete ban on liquor sales in Jammu and Kashmir.

According to a data, there are only 14 liquor shops in the entire Kashmir Division out of 305 total in Jammu & Kashmir with 291 in Jammu region. Many of these shops in the valley are also located in tourist hotspots both in north, central and south Kashmir.

Official figures show that alcohol sales continue to generate significant excise revenue in Jammu and Kashmir. According to official government data, Srinagar has emerged as the highest excise revenue-generating district in the Kashmir division. The district recorded over rupees 65.58 crore in excise revenue in 2024-2025, up from nearly rupees 54.90 crore in 2023-2024.

Overall, the Kashmir Division generated around rupees 184.48 crore in excise revenue over the last two financial years. During the same period, the entire Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir earned nearly rupees 2,152 crore from liquor sales.

As per available official records and excise allocations, Jammu division has a significantly larger number of licensed liquor vends compared to Kashmir division. The issue, however, remains socially and politically sensitive in the Valley, where several groups have repeatedly sought a complete ban on alcohol sales.

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