E-cigarettes banned to prevent youth from falling into new addiction: PM

New Delhi: Urging people to shun tobacco, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said e-cigarettes were banned to prevent the youth from falling into the new way of intoxication.

These are his first remarks on the issue of health hazards linked to e-cigarettes after the Union Cabinet earlier this month banned its sale, production, and storage through an ordinance. The ordinance will be converted into a bill in the next session of Parliament.

In his latest edition of 'Mann ki Baat' radio address, he also said a "myth" had been spread that e-cigarettes pose no danger.

Like the conventional cigarette, it does not spread odour as fragrant chemicals are added to it.

He said these chemicals are harmful and pose a health hazard.

"Do not harbour any misconceptions about e-cigarettes," he said.

Discourses and debates will continue, the support and opposition will continue, but, if some things are checked before they proliferate, then there is a huge benefit, he said, referring to the ban.

"e-cigarettes have been banned so that this new form of intoxication does not destroy our demographically young country. It does not trample the dreams of a family and waste the lives of our children," the prime minister asserted.