Srinagar, Feb. 12 -- MLA Lal Chowk Ahsan Pardesi has introduced a private bill seeking the closure of wine shops in Kashmir and other Muslim-majority areas of Jammu and Kashmir, citing religious, cultural and social concerns.

Pardesi asserts that alcohol sales violate the region's deeply rooted traditions, where Islam strictly forbids intoxicants.

"The unchecked sale of alcohol disregards the religious and cultural ethos of Kashmir. Our heritage has always stood against intoxicants, and this bill is a step toward preserving those values," he stated.

Highlighting Kashmir's Sufi-Reshi traditions, Pardesi emphasized that alcohol consumption has never been an intrinsic part of the Valley's social fabric, making its presence an anomaly.

He...