Tourist Spots are becoming favourite havens for Drug addicts in Kashmir . Agha Karar Hashmi
The Socio-Political Activist Agha Syed Karar Hashmi has lamented over rising graph of drug addiction in Kashmir, added that rising statistics and ground realities of youth addicted with drugs will surely ruin the social fabric of the Muslim majority state known as the land of Reshis and Sufis. On contrary, it is unfortunate that statistics show that ten thousand people are killed by liquor and only one is killed by a mad dog; yet we shoot the dog-and license the liquor. What sense is there in this ? argued Kashmiri based Social Activist
Hashmi further added that the best tourist spots like Mughal Gardens ,Dal lake, Gulmarg, Sonamarg, Pahalgam are imcreasingly becoming favourite havens for drug addicts , while such acts are globally condemned by all sane religions of the world. Unfortunate part of the story is that the silence of responsible people and enlightened citizen’s over such menance have failed us to combat drug addiction in valley.
Karar Hashmi from Central Kashmir Ganderbal further added that the trend toward prohibition of Alcohol in India have cheered many women’s rights groups, activists and others who say alcohol abuse contributes to domestic violence and plunges poor families deeper into penury. Here in Kashmir, 80 per cent drug users in Kashmir valley comprise those who consume prescription medicine. Availability of pharmaceuticals across the counter has added fuel to the fire in serious rise of addiction.There is no check on over-the-counter sale of such medicinal drugs by medical stores. It is not only a great wastage of money but also causes ulcers, stomach cancer, neurological and digestive disorders and liver ailments.
In an appeal to GOI Agha Syed Karar Hashmi requested GOI to make the holistic approach and effective strategy in collaboration with enlightened citizen’s, media, social organistions , religious heads and others in eradicating rising menance of drug addiction in the valley, not good to see everything through the prism of revenue, but also take decisions which would safeguard our youth and future generation.