Mangalore, Jun 1: Lashing out at Congress led-Karnataka government for implementing sudden ban on gutka, BJP leader and Mangalore MP Nalin Kumar Kateel warned that the move would spell doom for a large number of areca-nut growers, especially in coastal districts of Karnataka.
Addressing a news conference in the city on Saturday Mr Kateel said that the government had many options like removing the addictive substances from gutka, instead of implementing sudden ban on the product.
Clarifying that BJP's is not against banning gutka, he said that the government should come up with an alternative programme to help areca-nut growers, who will be directly affected by this ban. “Ban should be implemented only after making such alternative arrangements,” he said.
Coming down heavily on State Minister for Health and Family Welfare U T Khader, who had officially issued notification on gutka ban, the MP said that despite hailing from coastal Karnataka, where areca-nut is grown in large quantity, the former should not taken such a step.
“The Health Minister's decision proves that the newly elected representatives from coastal Karnataka including Dakshina Kannada are not in favour of areca-nut growers,” he lamented.
Mr Kateel also urged the Union on State governments to speed up the process to implement the recommendations of Dr Gorakh Singh Committee report for the welfare of farmers including areca-nut growers.
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