Srinagar, Nov. 18 -- Liquor production, its trade and consumption is registering a steeply upward trend in Jammu and Kashmir, the only Muslim dominated region of India. The government has set itself on a path of creating a "new economic and cultural ecosystem" for Kashmir. It is also encouraging opening up of new distilleries, breweries and liquor vends in the area.

It was exactly five weeks ago when Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha headed administration approved a proposal to authorize departmental stores to sell beer and other ready-to-drink (RTD) beverages in the former state. Our regional political parties National Conference and Peoples Democratic Party and others did issue statements against the latest liquor initiative of the admin...