JAMMU: One doesn’t know what Iltija has done in the domain of political life other than being born to Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chief Mehbooba Mufti, and carrying the surname Mufti. Her grandfather, late Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, would perhaps be turning in his grave today on hearing Iltija Mufti, who has inherited the surname from him. Why?
Well, Iltija can perhaps be the last person standing who should ask for a ban on alcohol in the Union Territory (UT) of Jammu & Kashmir. She should know that the UT is a pauper of sorts when it comes to revenue generation. Excise duty on alcohol forms a major part of the UT’s revenue stream. If Iltija’s wishful thinking were to fructify, the staff of the UT would perhaps have to wait for months to get their salaries even.
Incidentally, the police in J&K will get over Rs 10,000 crore from the Centre for running its affairs, be it salaries, vehicles, houses and whatever other it needs. Similarly, many large chunks of money to run J&K come from the Centre as the UT is revenue deficit. In other words, its expenditure is more than its earning and a major source of earning is alcohol.
Iltija’s grandfather, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed was CM of the state of J&K twice. For the first time from November 2, 2002, to November 2005, for three complete years. One never heard the Mufti family patriarch even once uttering a word against alcohol sale in the state. Despite having the backing of the Congress government at the Centre when he became CM.
Mufti Sayeed, Mehbooba’s Record
For the second time, he was CM from March 1, 2015, till his death in January 2016. At that time, Mufti had aligned with the BJP which was the ruling party at the Centre, headed by Narendra Modi who had a clear majority of 282 MPs in the Lok Sabha when he rode to power in May 2014. There is no record of Mufti ever speaking about putting a ban on alcohol in J&K.
Some months after the death of elder Mufti, Iltija’s mother Mehbooba Mufti became CM of the state. She was the CM for over two years till June 18, 2018. During her entire tenure, a ban on alcohol in state of J&K was never a subject she ever took up with the Centre, or proposed it with her own ministers.
Iltija, who was defeated in her maiden election to Legislative Assembly of the UT in 2024 is proposing something that her ancestors didn’t do. It needs to be pointed out that Mufti Mohammad Sayeed and Mehbooba Mufti, formidable leaders in their own right, remained in the Lok Sabha as also state legislature also more than once, never ever pressed for a ban on alcohol, when in power, or outside it. Why is Iltija than demanding it?
Iltija Tilting At Windmills
Well, the harder one tries to comprehend the logic, the more is one convinced that Iltija apparently believes that more outrageous the demand, the big political leader one becomes. A Muslim journalist who was close to Muftis at one time, said as a novice, Iltija need not be taken seriously. He explained that with PDP in doldrums, its leadership apparently believes that the party can win the support of radical Islamists if it rakes up subjects like ban on alcohol.
He pointed out that Iltija had put out a post showing late separatist leader SAS Geelani speaking on the subject of Urdu. This was meant to win sympathy of hardliners and one section of Muslims by projecting PDP as a champion of Muslims. These reek of desperateness on the part of the party and is sure not an indication of sagacity or political maturity on Iltija’s part.
On Monday, Iltija took to the X, which is what she seems to be good at to create controversies, and strongly criticised Chief Minister Omar Abdullah over his comments on alcohol regulation. She said Omar’s justification for not imposing a liquor ban in the Union Territory was “illogical”.
In a post, she argued the CM’s claim that prohibition could not be enforced because alcohol consumption is permitted in certain faiths was inconsistent. She also referred to prohibition regimes in states such as Gujarat and Bihar to question the reasoning behind the policy stance.
She wrote: JK CM’s expected U-Turn on the refusal to prohibit liquor shops lacks logic. He claims it’s wrong to impose a ban on Hindus consuming alcohol since their religion doesn’t forbid it. If this is the case how have Hindu majority states like Gujarat & Bihar banned alcohol successfully without a whimper? We are proud of J&Ks secular credentials but deeply unfortunate & insensitive for its Chief Minister to dismiss the religious sensibilities of the majority with such indifference.
For Iltija’s information, and if she were to choose to educate herself, more Muslims than Hindus drink alcohol in J&K. Iltija seems to be learning to twist facts, distort them beyond logic, from some people up close to the family. But she should remember there is an adage in English which says charity begins at home.
Pandering to Hardline Islamists?
Iltija’s reaction, which some people termed juvenile and born out of her frustration of failing to make any headway came in response to Abdullah’s remarks made on Sunday in Ganderbal during an interaction with reporters, where he said liquor outlets exist for those who choose to consume alcohol and that no individual is being compelled to do so. He maintained that the government does not promote drinking and that consumption remains a matter of personal choice.
Mufti, however, described the remarks as “deeply unfortunate”, alleging that they overlooked the religious sentiments of the majority community.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah earlier today stated that no new liquor shops had been opened and that his administration does not encourage alcohol consumption, particularly among young people. He further said his comments had been misrepresented, adding that brief remarks made during public interactions are often taken out of context and distorted by political opponents.
What Haseeb Drabu said about alcohol
Former J&K Bank Chairman Haseeb Drabu, who was at one time Finance Minister of J&K in PDP government, had ruled out putting a ban on alcohol. He had said that tourists will stop coming to J&K if alcohol was banned. Drabu had said in a matter of fact way that due to terrorism and security challenges, markets get deserted at dusk. If alcohol is also not available to tourists, they will prefer other hill states over J&K.
It needs to be stressed here that a substantial number of people are dependent on tourism in J&K, particularly Kashmir. It is not government jobs or other activity which keep the kitchen fires burning but the footfalls of tourists from all over India that provide employment to its residents.
