Mufti had initially planned to begin the campaign at Sher-e-Kashmir Park, but the police did not permit the gathering to proceed to the location, so the campaign was instead initiated from the party office.
“We are here for a serious issue. Drugs and alcohol are spreading like wildfire. The PDP MLA from Kupwara introduced a bill in the Jammu and Kashmir assembly seeking a ban on alcohol. We have started the signature campaign from the PDP office,” Mufti told reporters following the launch.
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She expressed concern over the growing consumption of drugs and alcohol, noting their negative impact on society’s moral values. “Our goal is to raise awareness about the dangers of drugs. Over the past few years, numerous liquor shops have opened in J-K, and alcohol is now easily accessible. We urge the public to support this campaign,” she added.
Mufti called on other political parties to back the PDP’s bill, emphasising that the issue was social, not political.
“I hope the other parties support us. I hope NC, PC, and BJP also back this bill, as it is not a political issue, but a social one. There is massive unemployment in J-K, and the youth are struggling, which leads them to turn to alcohol and drugs,” she said.
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Addressing the heavy police presence outside the party office, the PDP leader clarified, “We are not here to cause any trouble; we do not want to create any law and order (issue).”
“We are simply here to appeal to the people to say no to drugs and no to alcohol. I urge the public to come here and support this signature campaign and show their backing. Alcohol is a serious issue here and must be prohibited. I am calling for a complete ban on the sale and consumption of alcohol and drugs,” she said.
Mufti further appealed to both the Union Territory and the Central governments to make Jammu and Kashmir an alcohol-free region. “Just as Bihar, Gujarat, and Nagaland have become alcohol-free states, and this decision has had no adverse effect on tourism, we also advocate making J-K an alcohol-free state,” she concluded.
(Edited by : Jerome Anthony)
