Srinagar: The Mehbooba Mufti government and the Airports Authority of India (AAI) have scrapped a proposal to open a liquor outlet at Srinagar International Airport, bowing to a public outcry against the move.
The AAI had decided to open the outlet on New Year's Day and some 50 firms across the country had shown interest in the proposal.
"It is observed through media/social media that a section of the society is against having a duty-paid liquor shop at Srinagar International Airport.... Honouring local sentiments, the Airports Authority of India has decided to cancel the tender process of a duty-paid liquor shop with immediate effect," a statement issued by the AAI said.
Srinagar airport director Sharad Kumar told The Telegraph: "We found that a section of people was not in favour of it here. We have cancelled the tender to respect the sentiments of the people."
Officials said the tender was cancelled after Jammu and Kashmir's excise commissioner, Mohammad Javed Khan, wrote to the Srinagar airport director refusing to grant licence to start the liquor shop.
"The opening of liquor vend/shop at Srinagar International Airport will not be allowed/permitted... as such you may stop the process for any such proposal.... The excise department will not grant the licence required," the letter said. It said the excise commissioner had last month itself turned down the proposal to open a liquor outlet at the airport.
The ruling PDP-BJP government faced a torrent of criticism on social media and from key industry bodies in the state for deciding to open the liquor shop at the airport.
The Valley is not dry, but an unofficial ban was imposed by militants in 1990 on the sale and consumption of liquor.
Liquor is banned in Islam, which explains the broader societal disapproval for alcohol in the Valley.
Jammu and Kashmir has 223 liquor vends, which are a rich source of revenue for the government. However, only seven of them - four wine shops and three bars in hotels and restaurants - are in Kashmir.
Different groups had opposed the fresh proposal.
