Mirwaiz Umar Farooq: Anti-drug drive will fail if liquor sale stays unchecked in J&K
Synopsis
Kashmir's chief cleric Mirwaiz Umar Farooq has drawn a direct line between unchecked liquor sales and the failure of J&K's anti-drug campaign, warning that punishing drug networks while ignoring alcohol is a contradiction the administration cannot sustain. His remarks add religious and social weight to a debate the LG's office has so far framed purely as a law-and-order issue.
Key Takeaways
Mirwaiz Umar Farooq said on 12 May 2025 that the anti-narcotics drive in J&K will fail if liquor sales remain unchecked.
He reiterated his demand for a complete ban on alcohol , citing its social and religious incompatibility with the Muslim-majority region.
He cited Tamil Nadu's closure of 700 liquor shops as an example other states have followed regardless of religious composition.
He cautioned against region-biased operations and alleged harassment of family members through house demolitions.
The 100-day 'Nasha Mukt Jammu and Kashmir Abhiyaan' is ongoing, with LG Manoj Sinha having announced punitive measures including passport and Aadhaar cancellations for drug smugglers.
Chief Kashmir cleric Mirwaiz Umar Farooq on Tuesday, 12 May said that the ongoing campaign against narcotics in Jammu and Kashmir will not achieve its intended goals as long as the sale of liquor continues unchecked in the Union Territory. He made the remarks while speaking to media on the sidelines of a supermarket inauguration in Srinagar.
Mirwaiz Reiterates Alcohol Ban Demand
Mirwaiz Umar reiterated his long-standing demand for a complete ban on alcohol, echoing concerns he had raised during his Friday sermon at the Jama Masjid. He argued that both drugs and alcohol are deeply harmful to society, and that the Jammu and Kashmir government cannot justify taking action against one while remaining silent on the other.
He pointed out that Jammu and Kashmir is a Muslim-majority region where alcohol consumption is socially and religiously discouraged. He further noted that several Indian states with non-Muslim majorities have also imposed restrictions or outright bans on alcohol owing to its damaging social impact. He cited the example of Tamil Nadu, where, according to him, the new government's first step was to shut down 700 liquor shops.
Warning Against Region-Biased Operations and Family Harassment
The senior cleric also cautioned authorities against what he described as alleged harassment of family members during anti-drug operations. He specifically flagged the practice of demolishing houses for the actions of one individual, calling on the administration to ensure that the campaign does not become region-biased or punish innocent family members for the alleged crimes of a relative.
The Ongoing Anti-Drug Campaign
The remarks come amid the 100-day 'Nasha Mukt Jammu and Kashmir Abhiyaan', under which police have been conducting aggressive operations against drug smugglers, peddlers, and those involved in drug sale. Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, while launching the campaign, had announced additional punitive measures against drug smugglers, including cancellation of passports, Aadhaar cards, and driving licences, as well as attachment of property acquired through drug smuggling. These measures are reportedly in addition to the prescribed punishments under existing anti-drug smuggling laws.
What Happens Next
Mirwaiz Umar's public intervention adds a significant religious and social dimension to the debate around the anti-drug drive in the Valley. With the 'Nasha Mukt J&K Abhiyaan' still ongoing, pressure is likely to mount on the administration to respond to concerns about both the scope of the campaign and its perceived inconsistencies regarding alcohol regulation.
Point of View
But the cleric is exposing a policy inconsistency: cracking down on narcotics while leaving alcohol retail untouched in a region where both are socially condemned. His reference to Tamil Nadu is pointed — it frames prohibition not as a religious demand but as a governance choice that secular states have also made. The harder question for the LG's administration is whether the campaign's punitive overreach — demolishing homes, cancelling Aadhaar cards — is legally sustainable and whether it risks alienating the very communities whose cooperation is essential to any long-term anti-drug effort.
NationPress
28 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Mirwaiz Umar Farooq say about the anti-drug campaign in J&K?
Mirwaiz Umar Farooq said on 12 May 2025 that the anti-narcotics campaign in Jammu and Kashmir will not succeed as long as liquor continues to be sold unchecked in the Union Territory. He argued that both alcohol and drugs are harmful and the government cannot act against one while ignoring the other.
What is the 'Nasha Mukt Jammu and Kashmir Abhiyaan'?
It is a 100-day anti-drug campaign launched by the Jammu and Kashmir administration under LG Manoj Sinha, involving aggressive police operations against drug smugglers and peddlers. Additional punitive measures announced include cancellation of passports, Aadhaar cards, driving licences, and attachment of property linked to drug smuggling.
Why did Mirwaiz mention Tamil Nadu in his remarks?
Mirwaiz cited Tamil Nadu's reported closure of 700 liquor shops to argue that alcohol bans are not exclusively a religious demand but a governance decision that non-Muslim-majority states have also taken. He used this to counter any suggestion that his demand for an alcohol ban in J&K is solely religion-driven.
What concerns did Mirwaiz raise about the conduct of anti-drug operations?
He warned against alleged harassment of family members and the demolition of houses for the actions of a single individual. He also cautioned that the campaign should not be region-biased in its targeting.
Has the J&K administration responded to the demand for an alcohol ban?
There has been no publicly reported response from the J&K administration to Mirwaiz Umar Farooq's renewed demand for an alcohol ban as of 12 May 2025. The LG's office has so far framed the Nasha Mukt Abhiyaan primarily as a law-and-order operation against narcotics.
