Alcohol has always been seen as a social evil and is very much responsible for disintegration of families, road accidents and increase in crimes. The Holy Qur’ān describes alcohol and other narcotics as satan’s handiwork. In an effort to rid the society from the evils of alcohol consumption many women organisations staged a protest at Jaipur’s Narayan Singh Circle, demanding the shutting down of liquor shops. Expressing concern and understanding the gravity of the issue, the women’s wing of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind and Girl’s Islamic Organisation of Rajasthan came in support and joined the protest.
While addressing the women and the media, the organiser of the women’s wing of Jamaat-e-Islami, Ms. Ishrat Hayat said, “We understand our sisters’ concern and fully support the protest, which has been taking place for the last six months.”
She said alcohol is prohibited in Islam and everyone, be it the one who consumes it or serves or manufactures it or transports it, all are guilty under the Islam law.
She further said that we not only demand shutting down of just one particular shop, but we demand a complete ban on alcohol and we will continue our protest until the state completely bans alcohol.
The co-organizer of the protest, Ms. Nasira Zubairi said it is unfortunate that even after the large scale protest by women, shops are still open. She added that alcohol destroys and severs family bonds and creates chaos in society and mostly it is women and children who have to bear the brunt. She urged the government to immediately shut down the liquor shops and demanded a complete ban on alcohol.
On this occasion Mr. Intizar Naeem, Assistant Secretary JIH said it is paradoxical that in a democratic country and under the rule of the Gandhian chief minister, women have been staging protest for the last six months, yet nothing has been done. He said Jamaat has been demanding complete ban on alcohol since the very beginning and we again reiterate our demand and we will not accept anything lesser than a complete ban.