Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Sunday defended the Union Territory administration’s policy regarding liquor shops, stating that the government was not promoting alcohol consumption but allowing individuals whose faith permits it to exercise personal choice.
Speaking to reporters, Abdullah clarified that no administration in Jammu and Kashmir had ever enforced a complete ban on liquor outlets and said the current government had not taken any steps to expand their presence.
“These (wine) shops are intended specifically for those individuals whose religious beliefs permit them to consume alcohol. No government in Jammu and Kashmir, to date, has ever imposed a complete ban on these establishments. This does not imply that we wish to encourage increased consumption; it simply means that those whose religious tenets permit the use or consumption of alcohol are free to do so,” Abdullah said.
The Chief Minister also stressed that the administration was conscious of concerns regarding the impact of alcohol on younger generations and claimed safeguards had been put in place.
“Our own religion does not grant us such permission, nor do we desire to see people gravitating toward this path. Consequently, our administration has implemented two or three key measures. First, we have not opened any new liquor shops. Second, we have made every concerted effort to ensure that no such shop is situated in a location where it might tempt our youth to stray down the wrong path,” he said.
Abdullah further accused political rivals of attempting to use the issue to divert public attention from their own shortcomings.
“Now, my political opponents are attempting to exploit this statement of mine to mask their own past failures,” he added.
The remarks come amid continued political debate in Jammu and Kashmir over the regulation of liquor sales and the balance between religious sensitivities and individual freedoms.
Earlier in April, Abdullah had also welcomed a decision by the Jammu and Kashmir High Court to quash the Public Safety Act detention of AAP MLA Mehraj Malik, describing the detention as a “gross misuse of law”.
Malik had been detained in September 2025 under the Public Safety Act over allegations linked to public order and security concerns. The High Court later ordered his release, observing that the circumstances of the case did not justify curtailing the liberty of an elected representative.
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