SMOKING
Union Health Ministry issued a notification for the ban under the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution), Act 2003.
Shah Rukh Khan caught everyone's attention for smoking at Amritsar's Khalsa college during the shooting of Rab Ne Bana Di jodi, now Ajay Devgan is in the dock.
The actor was spotted smoking at the Chandigarh Airport on Monday. The following day, Hemant Goswami, a social activist and the chairperson of the Burning Brain Society moved a formal complaint against the actor for smoking.
And on Wednesday, Devgan was booked for smoking at a public place and a rupees 100 fine will be collected from him. Devgan is in Chandigarh, shooting for his next London Dreams. f Gandhi had not been cremated, he would be turning in his grave.
The Mahatma forced the British to quit India while on a diet that seldom strayed beyond goats' milk and lentils. A struggle to give up smoking as a young man convinced him of the evils of nicotine and the ban was brought in to coincide with the anniversary of his birthday. It seems certain that he would be dismayed by estimates that 40 per cent of India's health problems are caused by tobacco.
In an effort to clamp down on a habit that kills an estimated 1 million people every year, the government put in action a ban that carries a fine of 200 rupees (£2.40) ' more than the average person’s daily wage. The health minister who championed the ban, Anbumani Ramadoss, has said that those wishing to keep up the habit will “have to smoke in the streets”.
India is the third largest market for cigarettes, with up to 250 million smokers, and opposition to the ban is fierce. India’s largest cigarette manufacturer, ITC Ltd, will go to the Supreme Court in November seeking to overturn Mr Ramadoss’s legislation.
As part of his battle, the minister has clashed with some of the country’s most famous film stars, including Shah...