On Friday, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) organized a protest in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, demanding a complete ban on liquor sales in the region. Led by party general secretary Anwar Khan, the protest aimed to draw attention to the operation of liquor shops near religious places, educational institutions, and residential areas. Khan stated that the BJP will continue its peaceful protests until these establishments are shut down, asserting that Kashmir should not become a hub for alcohol culture. The protest follows a recent exchange between Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader Itlija Mufti regarding liquor policies. Abdullah has linked alcohol consumption to individual freedom and ruled out a ban, while the PDP has called for restrictions. Former Srinagar mayor Junaid Azim Mattu urged the National Conference, led by Farooq Abdullah, to act on the issue and introduce a prohibition bill. The National Conference, however, has pointed fingers at the BJP and PDP for previous policies that allowed for the expansion of liquor sales in Jammu and Kashmir, highlighting a complex interplay of political interests surrounding the liquor issue.