A political row has erupted in Jammu and Kashmir over the issue of liquor sales in the union territory, with Chief Minister Omar Abdullah defending the sale, while the opposition and one of his own party MPs oppose it.
The row erupted over Abdullah's response to a reporter's question on Sunday on the 2026 liquor policy in the context of the UT government's 100-day anti-drug campaign.
Abdullah said that people consume alcohol of their own will, and the government was not forcing anyone to visit liquor shops.
However, his statement drew criticism from the PDP as well as his own party MP from Srinagar, who accused the government of taking U-turns on every issue and sought a ban on alcohol in the UT.
Jammu and Kashmir has never legally imposed a complete ban on the sale or consumption of alcohol, with successive governments having opted for regulation rather than a total ban.
Abdullah later admitted that his remarks on Sunday were a 'mistake' and clarified that the liquor shops are meant for those whose religion allows the consumption of alcohol.
