Srinagar, May 8 (KNO):: Mirwaiz Moulvi Muhammad Umar Farooq on Friday called for a comprehensive and humane approach to tackling the growing drug menace in Jammu and Kashmir, saying addiction cannot be addressed through policing alone while another intoxicant—alcohol—is being normalised and promoted by the state.
Addressing the Friday congregation at Jama Masjid Srinagar, the Mirwaiz, per news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), said the government’s drive against drug peddlers and narcotics networks is welcome, as substance abuse has emerged as one of the gravest challenges facing society, particularly the younger generation.
However, he cautioned that the crisis must not be reduced to a law-and-order issue marked only by arrests and confiscations.
“A generation raised amid political conflict, uncertainty, psychological stress and limited economic opportunities is highly vulnerable to substance abuse,” he said, adding that many young people today are battling anxiety, hopelessness and distress linked to uncertainty about their future.
While strict action against traffickers and dismantling their networks is necessary, Mirwaiz said policing alone cannot resolve what is essentially a public health and social crisis. “Healing a wounded society requires addressing root causes and restoring hope,” he said.
He stressed that the situation demands a holistic response—one that focuses on stability, opportunities, counselling and constructive engagement for youth, which in itself would serve as a deterrent against drug abuse.
Referring to earlier initiatives, the Mirwaiz said a campaign against drug abuse and for social reformation was launched around 2014 under the aegis of the Muttahida Majlis Ulema (MMU), highlighting the role mosques and religious leaders can play in combating addiction. He said collective efforts across institutions and society remain crucial.
At the same time, Mirwaiz urged society and policymakers to recognise that addiction is not limited to narcotics alone. “Alcohol is also an intoxicant and a serious social evil,” he said, pointing out that Islam has consistently prohibited intoxicants due to the harm they cause to individuals and communities.
He expressed concern over what he termed the increasing normalisation of alcohol in Jammu and Kashmir, noting that official figures show hundreds of licensed liquor vends operating in the region, with a significant rise in revenue from alcohol sales in recent years.
“This raises a fundamental question: can one form of addiction be fought while another is simultaneously expanded?” he asked.
The Mirwaiz noted that several Indian states, including Gujarat, Bihar and Nagaland, have adopted prohibition or strict restrictions on alcohol, demonstrating that public policy can be guided by social welfare rather than revenue considerations alone.
Calling Kashmir historically a society rooted in spirituality and strong social values, he urged the government to seriously reconsider its alcohol policy and impose a complete ban as part of a meaningful strategy to protect the youth.
“Our youth need education, opportunity, counselling, spiritual grounding and hope—not substances that destroy their future,” he said.—(KNO)