The Muthaida Majlis e Ulema- an amalgam of religious scholars from the valley has expressed resentment over admin’s latest order to approve sale of beer in urban areas.
MMU in a statement said that the amalgam unitedly seeks the withdrawal of the order.
Meanwhile, Hurriyat Conference too expressed resentment over the order stating, “One on hand the current regime is claiming to win ‘awards’ for their drug-deaddiction campaigns and on the other, they are enabling an alcohol culture. Such moves will add more fuel to the simmering fire in Kashmir. They must be stopped now before it’s too late.”
Condemning the NIA raids at Moulana Rehmatullah Qasmi’s house, MMU said, “The raid is aimed at scaring MMU so that they are stopped from safeguarding the interests of the Muslims of Jammu and Kashmir and its Muslim character is undermined. These acts of intimidation of scholars, imams and preachers should be stopped, MMU said, adding that all arrested scholars and preachers including #Mirwaiz Umar Farooq should be released.”
Responding to the proposal, the National Conference state spokesperson Imran Nabi Dar said, “It is preposterous and mischievous. This will not only indulge youth into a new addiction but will also have serious ramifications considering how easy its access has been made.”
He said, on one hand, the administration claims it has waged a war against drug addiction and substance abuse, and on the other, it is promoting the sale of alcoholic beverages at public places.
Everywhere such decisions are approved only after taking all stakeholders on board, but here in J-K such decisions are being made without the necessary approval or discussion with community leaders, elders, Dar said.
Pertinently, The Jammu Kashmir administration has approved a proposal to authorise departmental stores to sell beer and other ready-to-drink (RTD) beverages in urban areas of the region.
The decision was taken by the Administrative Council that met under the chairmanship of Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha. Rajeev Rai Bhatnagar, advisor to the Lieutenant Governor and Arun Kumar Mehta, chief secretary, Jammu and Kashmir attended the meeting.
The council approved the incorporation of liberal provisions in Jammu and Kashmir Liquor License and Sale Rules, 1984 and Excise Policy, 2023-24 for grant of ‘JKEL-2A’ license for retail sale of beer and RTD beverages in departmental stores in urban areas of the Jammu Kashmir, an official spokesperson said.
The departmental stores in a commercial complex, approved by the competent authority, fulfilling conditions like having total carpet area of minimum 1200 sq feet, annual turnover of minimum Rs 5 crore in Jammu and Srinagar cities and Rs 2 crore for stores in other urban areas will be eligible under the scheme, the spokesperson said.
Moreover, a chain of departmental stores having annual turnover of more than Rs 10 crore will be eligible to apply for separate licences for each of store, the spokesperson said.
The departmental store should have been in existence for at least 12 months prior to the date of application. However, this condition shall not be applicable in case of a new or recently opened departmental store belonging to a chain of departmental stores having annual turnover of more than Rs 10 crore, he said.
The departmental stores should be selling a minimum of six of the category of items, including grocery items; frozen foods; confectionery/bakery items; toiletries; cosmetics; household goods; utensils/kitchenware; sports items; electrical/electronic appliances; apparels; and stationery, the spokesperson said.
In addition, no application for the grant of license shall be considered for departmental stores functioning at petrol pumps according to the said decision, he said.
The administrative council also given permission to the Jammu and Kashmir Tourism Development Corporation for retail sale of beer and RTD beverages in unserved/underserved areas in consultation with the concerned deputy commissioner, the spokesperson added. (with inputs from PTI)