Mangalore, Dec 13: Condemning the state government's proposal to impose a ban on arecanut, former union minister B Janardhan Poojary urged Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to form an all-party delegation and meet the Prime Minister pressing for the withdrawal of the same.
Addressing a press conference here on Friday, he said that all political leaders including leaders of the opposition party should work towards this and impress upon the government to withdraw its affidavit seeking ban on arecanut.
“Arecanut is not injurious to health, but has several medicinal benefits. It contains merely 0.15 alkaline content, much lower than the permissible limit. It is not easy to ban the crop completely as both the union and state governments have been supporting the cultivation of arecanut. It is the source of income for thousands of families. Even the economy of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts is dependent on it and the proposed ban will have its impact on the economy,” he said, urging all political leaders to work in unison against the proposed plan.
He said that he would meet AICC Chief Sonia Gandhi and discuss the matter.
'Do not interfere with Mutts'
Mr Poojary also criticised the state government for making an effort to take over the administration of mutts. “If any mutt was indulging into illegal activities, then let the government act against it. The government should not interfere with the Mutts and hurt the religious sentiments of the people. It is a conspiracy by the officials against Chief Minister Siddaramaiah who has been performing well,” he claimed.
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