Shimla: Finding implementation of the sudden ban on tobacco products like Gutkha announced a tough task at hand, the government today retraced and deferred it till October 2, a time in all likelihood when state would be in the midst of general assembly elections and there would be no authority to implement it.
Chief minister Prem Kumar Dhumal took the decision after hearing a appeal by a delegation of retailers that was led by Suresh Bhardwaj, the BJP MLA from Shimla city.
Dhumal said that the decision to ban tobacco products like Gutkha and Khaini had been taken to safeguard health of young people who were getting addicted to use of these products.
With the stockiest urging the chief minister for granting time to exhaust the available stocks and in the interests of retailers, Dhumal decided to defer the ban on sale of ‘Gutka’ and other tobacco products till October 2.
As Editor, Ravinder Makhaik leads a team of media professionals at Hill Post.
Spanning a career of over two decades in mass communication, as a Documentary Filmmaker, TV journalist, Print Media journalist and with Online & Social Media, he brings with him a vast experience. He lives in Shimla.
