Srinagar, 12 May (H.S.): Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and National Conference president Farooq Abdullah on Tuesday said the J&K Government could ban alcohol in two minutes if the Centre compensate for the loss of revenue.

Speaking on the ongoing controversy over liquor outlets, Abdullah said he personally does not consume alcohol but maintained that those who drink would procure it from outside Jammu and Kashmir if it was not available locally.

“I do not drink alcohol. Those who drink alcohol, they will drink. If they do not get it from here, they will bring it from outside,” he said. “And those who are raising their voices, ask them who are the people who drink alcohol.”

Recalling an incident from 1977, Abdullah said former Prime Minister Morarji Desai had asked his father, former J&K Chief Minister Sheikh Abdullah, to stop alcohol sales in the state.

” My father told him that if the Centre gives us the revenue we earn from it, then we will stop it. Nothing happened,” he said adding that if today the Centre compensate for the loss of revenue, the government could ban alcohol in two minutes.

NC president argued that the issue was being politicised by opponents and questioned why there was no opposition when liquor shops were opened earlier.

“We did not open liquor stores. Those who opened them, why did nobody raise their voice then Shops were opening in every village,” he said.

Apparently targeting the opposition People’s Democratic Party, Abdullah accused them of raising the issue only to attack the government.

“They are ready to criticise us over everything…They think we are afraid of them, but we will defeat them in a way they will remember,” he said.

A political row erupted in Jammu and Kashmir recently over remarks by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on liquor consumption, with PDP leader Iltija Mufti accusing him ignoring the sensitivities of the Muslim-majority region.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Krishan Kumar