Pro and anti-tobacco lobbies have intensified their agitation through media advertisements with producers raising questions of livelihood and the other side demanding a complete ban on "killer" tobacco.
"If tobacco kills--kill it", said a public interest message issued by the Health Awareness Forum, demanding a ban on all tobacco products.
The other side was quick to respond by raising the issue of livelihood of farmers depending upon tobacco cultivation.
"It's the only means to support the livelihood of my family", said a farmer in an open letter to Prime Minister, which was published as an advertisement in a leading national daily.
The pro-tobacco lobby also argued that the citizens should be allowed to choose "what it should take."
Adulterated edible oil, artificial milk, duplicate medicines, vehicle smoke and polluted air and water harm the health of people. "Then why the restrictions only on tobacco?", said an advertisement issued by the Gujarat Tobacco Merchants Association.
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"Put a ban on all tobacco. Make the country tobacco free", retorted the Centre for Transforming India, saying about 2 Indians die every minute from diseases related to smoking.
"From this year onwards 1 million Indians are going to die from smoking every year. That is the equivalent of 2740 people every day or 114 people every hour or about 1.9 Indians dying every minute from smoking", the advertisement said.
On the other hand, the Gujarat Tobacco Merchants Association urged the state Government to buy tobacco stocked by farmers at the average cost of last five years and compensate them through subsidies and interest free loans, as there are no buyers.
"We the poor farmers, request the Government to purchase our stocked tobacco at the average cost of last five years. We further request to compensate our loss in the form of subsidies, interest free loans for electricity, seeds and advanced equipment... For next five years", the Association said.
The appeal goes on to urge the Gujarat Government to act, else the farmers could be driven to commit suicides like in other states.
"We request you to consider our plight and to bring proper solution to our problems, and motivate us not to go to the extent of Satyagraha (nonviolent resistance for truth)", it added.
Likewise, the arecanut growers too appealed to the Prime Minister requesting his intervention, as farmers are struggling to meet their livelihood needs after the arecanut market was closed following a Central Government notification banning plastic sachets in gutka.
"Without committing any mistake, why the Government is penalising us without any fault. Please don't force us to commit suicide", a public interest message issued by Campco Limited said. NNNN