Srinagar: Reacting to the removal of a signboard in Lal Chowk, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq on Saturday questioned the authorities, asking, “Why was this signboard seized? What exactly is wrong with urging tourists to respect local culture, avoid alcohol and use of drugs, and keep the city clean? Shopkeepers of Lal Chowk informed me about this. Is promoting moral values and decency now a crime in Kashmir?”
The signboard, erected by the traders association in Lal Chowk, cautioned tourists against consuming alcohol, drugs, and smoking, encouraging them to embrace family values. However, police seized the board a day after its installation.
Earlier, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) spokesperson Mohit Bhan also shared the update on X, stating, “Amid growing calls for an ‘Alcohol Ban’ in J&K, traders in Lal Chowk are putting up signboards encouraging tourists to embrace family values and avoid liquor, drugs, and smoking.”
The incident has reignited debates over cultural norms and tourism policies in Kashmir. Concerns over alcohol consumption among tourists have previously led to demands for stricter regulations. Several political figures and activists have raised this issue on social media, calling for a ban on alcohol in the region.
Earlier instances of tourists drinking alcohol in Kashmir had drawn criticism, with some groups arguing that such activities go against the region’s cultural ethos. The removal of the signboard has now added to the ongoing discourse on preserving local values while balancing tourism policies.
