Polls in beedi country make YSR, Naidu appeal to Centre: Reduce size of health risk sign on packet

Chief Minister Y S Rajashekhara Reddy and TDP rival N Chandrababu Naidu have asked the Centre to reconsider its decision that makes it mandatory for beedi manufacturers to print a skull-and-crossbones warning across the beedi wrapper.

Teaming up on the eve of the by-election in Karimnagar, one of the largest beedi producing areas in Andhra Pradesh, Chief Minister Y S Rajashekhara Reddy and TDP rival N Chandrababu Naidu have asked the Centre to reconsider its decision that makes it mandatory for beedi manufacturers to print a skull-and-crossbones warning across 50 per cent of the beedi wrapper. The Central order, to be effective February, 2007, is being resisted by beedi manufacturers who claim it will lead to drop in sales.

Confirming that he had written to Union Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss, Reddy today said that the warning logo should not cover more than 20 per cent of the wrapper since the brand name has to be visible. If the Central order is implemented, Reddy said: “This will lead to a drop in the sale of beedis in the state.”

His letter, he said, did not suggest that beedi smoking was not injurious. “What we are saying is that the sale of beedis should be properly regulated, and that there should be some balance,” he said.

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Beedis account for 70-80 per cent of the country’s tobacco market and more than 40 per cent of smokers use beedis. An estimated 6 lakh tobacco-related deaths occur in India ever year.

Chandrababu Naidu said he had written to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on the issue. In his letter, Naidu pointed out that Congress’s Pananaka Lakshmi was MoS Health while TRS’s K Chandrashekhar Rao was the Union Labour Minister when the government order was passed.

He demanded that the order be “rescinded and discussions held with the industry not to close down”.