March 13, 2026 08:17 am (IST)
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BJP MP Shyama Charan Gupta summoned over his tobacco remark
New Delhi, Apr 5 (IBNS): Parliamentary Affairs Minister Venkaiah Naidu on Sunday summoned Allahabad MP Shyama Charan Gupta, a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi has asked Health Minister JN Nadda to make it clear that the administration does not agree with a Parliamentary committee, which says there is no local evidence to prove that cancer is caused by smoking.
Gupta has been summoned to explain his remark where he said that cancer is not caused by tobacco.
He has also been asked to explain why he did not recuse himself from the committee.
This comes after Prime Minister Narendra Modi has asked Health Minister JN Nadda to make it clear that the administration does not agree with a Parliamentary committee, which says there is no local evidence to prove that cancer is caused by smoking.
Reports said plans for 85 per cent of a cigarette packet to carry a warning on the damage done by smoking were delayed this week, after the Parliamentary committee said it needs more time to discuss the proposal, which was meant to be enforced by April 1.
A warning that covers 60-65 per cent of the packaging may be now be sanctioned by the government, reports said.
"We have put the order in abeyance as the Parliamentary committee wants to deliberate on some issues. We stand by our commitment to introduce new picture warnings," he said earlier this week.
Members of the Parliamentary committee say that hundreds of thousands of people will lose their livelihood if strict measures are introduced against the tobacco industry.
An estimated 9,00,000 Indians die every year from causes related to tobacco use while activists have been demanding greater campaign against smoking to contain the menace.
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