Kargil: The Jamiat Ul Ulama Isna Asharia Kargil (JUIAK), a religious organisation in Ladakh’s Kargil district, has demanded a complete ban on liquor in the region and warned of democratic and peaceful protests if the new excise policy is not withdrawn.
At a press conference, JUIAK General Secretary Sheikh Ibrahim Khalili and Political In-charge Sajjad Kargili stated the organisation will be forced to launch protests if the administration allows sale and open consumption of alcohol in Kargil. They said alcohol has no place in Ladakhi society and raised concerns about its impact on youth and social structure.
The organisation announced plans to meet Ladakh Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena to submit a formal memorandum seeking withdrawal of the policy and enforcement of a full prohibition on liquor in the region. It also called on religious scholars, community leaders, and social organisations to spread awareness on the harms linked to alcohol consumption and substance abuse.
The statement comes amid rising opposition in Ladakh to the revised excise policy introduced by the Lieutenant Governor-led administration. Under the new framework, sale of hard liquor, including foreign liquor and Indian Made Foreign Liquor, is now permitted through retail outlets. The number of liquor vends has increased from two to twenty across the Union Territory. Earlier, only beer, wine, and ready-to-drink beverages were allowed for retail sale.
The developments also come in the backdrop of wider policy changes in Union Territories, including the recent repeal of a decades-old prohibition law in Lakshadweep through the Lakshadweep Excise Regulation, 2026. The move ended a near-total liquor ban in place since 1979 and allowed licensed manufacture, sale, and consumption of alcohol, with authorities citing tourism growth and revenue generation.
