SRINAGAR: Scores of Dalgate residents in Srinagar on Friday staged a protest demonstration against sale of liquor on Boulevard Road and demanded closure of the booze outlet run by inside the Tourism development corporation Heemal hotel.The protesters, who were carrying placards, demanded that the liquor outlet be closed permanently and asked the government to impose a blanket ban on sale of booze in Muslim-majority Kashmir."If governments in Bihar and other states can ban liquor then why can't our government do the same in Jammu and Kashmir? We are a Muslim majority state and consumption of liquor is considered immoral in our religion. Therefore, the liquor shop at Heemal should be shut permanently," a protester, Ghulam Qadire Khan, said.Interestingly, Jammu and Kashmir Excise department on November 7 withdrew permission granted to Airport Authority of India for setting up duty paid liquor shop at Srinagar International Airport, following residents' resentment.The Airport Authority of India had invited tenders for running the liquor outlets inside the airport premises for on-board passengers and got some 50 bidders.The AAI in a statement said "it is observed through media and social media as well that a section of society is against having duty paid liquor shop at Srinagar International Airport. Therefore, respecting the local sentiments, we have decided to cancel the tender process of duty paid liquor shop with immediate effect."

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