Farooq Abdullah throws the latest. Open cinema halls and liquor shops in the valley to attract more tourists. Well, the debate about the first part can't be stretched anymore. Cinema is no issue. It's simply a tool of entertainment which we already have in our homes. A hall makes it only bigger in size. So what we can see on our gadgets anywhere we are, we can see the same in a huge multiplex which in no way makes it less or more forbidden. So drop cinema from the list. Concentrate on liquor.
About liquor there are points to be raised. Let's not moralize the issue beyond a limit. Those who love it, take it irrespective of the sermonizing we normally come across. But we must not also underrate the sensibilities of people at large. Sure Kashmir is not a theocratic state but social sensitivities of a place are not necessarily bound by religious laws. If revenue generation is the only goal, then there can be other means also to be explored. The next question one may raise is the absence of red light areas in the valley. That again can attract tourists. Sex workers have been a potent source of revenue for tourist places the world over. Will Kashmir be next in the line? Making the revenue of a state independent of the collective sensibilities of people knows no limits. Government is for its own people first, tourists come next.
Second point is about the non-availability of liquor in the valley? The answer can better be had from the tourists who leave Kashmir dry. Do they? Who demands a liquor permit from those who want to have it? And is there really a significant decrease in the tourist flow just because they can't have wine here. Gujarat, despite being a putative dry state still attracts tourist in droves. And many still ask, is Gujarat really a dry state? Being declared dry may be a formal tribute to the soul of Gandhi, but practically it can't be dust dry. Reports say that there are certain pubs in South Gujarat where liquor is easily served to the guests on demand. Unfortunately no statistics can be had to substantiate an argument like this.
One wonders if for Farooq Abdullah AFSPA holds no urgency for its revocation, why is he so desperate to see liquor shops flourishing in the valley. Modi will not be as worried about his tourists in Gujarat as he seems to be in Kashmir.

Lastupdate on : Sat, 10 Dec 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sat, 10 Dec 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sun, 11 Dec 2011 00:00:00 IST