Budgam, May 16: Senior Jammu and Kashmir National Conference leader and Rajya Sabha member Choudhary Muhammad Ramzan on Saturday said that all major laws implemented in Jammu and Kashmir come from New Delhi and asserted that liquor trade in the Union Territory could be stopped “within 10 minutes” if the Centre wished to do so.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a party convention in Budgam, Ramzan said the prohibition decision was effectively in the hands of the Lieutenant Governor’s administration.
“The liquor ban is in the court of the Lieutenant Governor. We also want a ban on it,” he said.
The NC leader said those campaigning against drug abuse should also address the issue of the liquor trade and take practical initiatives if they genuinely seek prohibition.
“Lieutenant Governor leads marches against drugs, but at the same time he should think about liquor trade. Let him take initiative, we are with him,” Ramzan said.
He, however, added that any decision involving closure of liquor trade would also require addressing compensation and related administrative implications.
Ramzan also hit out at the People’s Democratic Party over criticism directed at the National Conference on the liquor issue.
“Go and read the statement of former Finance Minister Dr Haseeb Drabu who supported liquor trade,” he said.
According to Ramzan, Drabu had described liquor consumption as a matter of personal choice and opposed prohibition during his tenure as Finance Minister in the PDP-led government headed by Mehbooba Mufti.
“Today they blame the National Conference,” Ramzan added.
Describing liquor as “Umul Khabayis” or the “Mother of all evils,” Ramzan said there was broad public support for prohibition but maintained that the elected government did not directly control the Revenue Department.
“Revenue Department falls under the control of the Lieutenant Governor and it is not in our control,” he said.
On India-Pakistan relations, the NC leader said dialogue between the two countries was necessary for lasting peace and poverty eradication in the region.
He welcomed recent remarks by RSS leader supporting engagement between India and Pakistan and said such a position had consistently been advocated by Farooq Abdullah and the National Conference leadership.
“We wanted and we want peaceful co-existence,” Ramzan said. [KNT]
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