I was a victim of tobacco lobby, says Ramadoss
5 April 2015 4:43 AM IST
Former Union Health Minister and PMK leader Anbumani Ramadoss, an NDA ally, on Friday said he had been a “victim” of the tobacco lobby and sought Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s intervention for increasing the size of pictorial warnings on tobacco products to 85 per cent as planned earlier.
The government’s decision to increase pictorial warnings on packets of tobacco products to 85 per cent from the existing 40 per cent from April 1, which earned India international acclaim, has been put on hold indefinitely.
“It is high time the PM intervened. I appeal to him to order the Health Ministry to increase pictorial warning to 85 per cent immediately,” he said.
Terming the tobacco lobby as one of the most powerful, he alleged it ‘instigated’ employees to speak against such proposed rules on the ground that they would “hurt” the employees in tobacco growing and beedi manufacturing firms.
The government’s decision to increase pictorial warnings on packets of tobacco products to 85 per cent from the existing 40 per cent from April 1, which earned India international acclaim, has been put on hold indefinitely.
“It is high time the PM intervened. I appeal to him to order the Health Ministry to increase pictorial warning to 85 per cent immediately,” he said.
Terming the tobacco lobby as one of the most powerful, he alleged it ‘instigated’ employees to speak against such proposed rules on the ground that they would “hurt” the employees in tobacco growing and beedi manufacturing firms.
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