Srinagar, Jul 10: Residents of Pantha Chowk, Srinagar on Friday staged a peaceful protest against the proposed opening of a wine shop in the area, urging the Jammu and Kashmir government and the authorities concerned to halt the move. They said the outlet is being established close to residential localities and religious institutions.
The protesters, who assembled in Pantha Chowk, were joined by PDP spokesperson and leader Zuhaib Yousf Mir, who expressed solidarity with the residents and supported their demand for government intervention.
The residents alleged that the proposed wine shop is being set up in the premises that earlier housed the Crest Hyundai showroom at Tagnor, adjacent to a Honda showroom and opposite the J&K High-End Advanced Water Treatment Scheme.
They said the location is in close proximity to residential areas and several religious institutions, including mosques, and claimed that opening a liquor outlet there would adversely affect the social environment and hurt public sentiments.
“We request the administration not to permit the opening of the wine shop in our locality. This is a residential area and the presence of religious institutions nearby makes the proposed location unsuitable,” one of the protesters said.
The residents said they were concerned about the safety and well-being of families and children, urging the authorities to reconsider the decision in the larger public interest.
They also appealed to the elected representatives, including Members of Parliament and MLAs, to take note of the issue and ensure that the concerns of the local population are addressed in accordance with the law.
The protesters further said they had reposed faith in the present government and hoped it would respond positively to their concerns. (KNO)
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