The Karnataka government has reversed its recent ban on gutka and tobacco-containing pan masala, just two days after the order was implemented. This decision follows widespread protests from legislators across various political parties, who expressed concerns that the ban could negatively impact arecanut farmers in the state.
He said legislators would support farmers if they launched protests against the decision and urged the government to safeguard growers’ interests. Chief minister D.K. Shivakumar directed officials to withdraw the order after a meeting with Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Congress legislators led by BJP MLA Araga Jnanendra and Congress MLA D.G. Shanthana Gowda, who raised concerns that the prohibition could hurt the market for arecanut and cause losses to growers. “The issue also came up during Thursday’s Cabinet meeting. “There are two matters. “Farmers wait for five years for the arecanut crop. They invest throughout this period. Already, arecanut growers are facing problems. JD(S) MLA A. Manju also called for the ban to be withdrawn, warning that any measure affecting arecanut growers would meet resistance in the Malnad region. “The Chief Minister should know that there will be stiff resistance. In the Malnad region, a large number of people are dependent on arecanut farming. The government should reverse its decision to ban gutka. Raghavendra also questioned the government’s approach to other products, arguing that a public health policy should apply consistently. “If the government was concerned about the health of people, it should ban the sale of cigarettes and liquor. The Congress government has increased the number of liquor licences and the number of liquor shops have been increased at the hobli-level.
Shivakumar was reportedly displeased that the Food Safety Commissioner’s order was issued without his knowledge and questioned health department officials about why the matter had not been brought to him before the notification,” an official privy to the development said. Former chief minister and BJP MP Basavaraj Bommai said the government needed to protect public health without leaving growers exposed. One is health, which must be ensured, but the interests of arecanut growers must also be protected,” Bommai said. He said arecanut farming, once concentrated mainly in the Malnad region, had expanded into several districts, leaving large numbers of farmers dependent on the crop. The government should provide compensation to farmers if such a decision is taken,” he said. If the government wants to ban arecanut, it will get a bad name,” Manju said. Will they ban the sale of liquor?” he said.
