Signboard seizure: Is respecting culture a crime in Kashmir, asks MP Ruhullah

Srinagar: National Conference (NC) Member of Parliament Aga Ruhullah Mehdi has criticised the Jammu and Kashmir administration for removing a signboard that urged tourists to respect local sensitivities.

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.

Questioning the legality of the move, Ruhullah asked the police to clarify under which law the board was taken down or if “the only law in place is the one that silences Kashmiris.”

In a statement, Ruhullah accused the Lieutenant Governor’s administration and armed forces of turning Kashmir into an Orwellian state where people are denied the right to protest, safeguard their identity, or even express their cultural values.

“Suppression breeds resentment. The more you push Kashmiris to the wall, the stronger their will to break it down,” he said, emphasising that Kashmiris have the right to preserve and protect their culture and faith like any other society in the country. He further urged the police to function as a law-abiding institution rather than as a colonial force that disregards community sensitivities.

Earlier, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq 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?”

Initially, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) spokesperson Mohit Bhan 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.