Tobacco produces nothing less than death: Harsh Vardhan

Union Minister for Science and Technology Harsh Vardhan today asserted that tobacco produces nothing less than death as he took exception about member's of a Parliamentary panel commenting on the issue that has raised questions about conflict of interest.
"I can only say that as an ENT surgeon, as a former Health Minister, as a Doctor I can say that tobacco produces death and nothing less than that," he said in response to a question by reporters on the issue of increasing the size of pictorial warnings on tobacco in the backdrop of a controversy generated by BJP members of a parliamentary panel suggesting "nil" effects of smoking.

Harsh Vardhan was the Health Minister when the notification was issued by the ministry making 85 per cent of space on cigarette packs and other tobacco products to be mandatorily covered with graphic and text warnings of health hazard.
Asked whether the members with conflict of interest should stay in the panel, on the sidelines of an event organised by Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, National Aerospace Laboratories here, he said "I think this is quite natural, why should anybody who has a conflict on interest should be commenting on a subject which raises questions about the conflict of interest."

Government had yesterday said that it will take a "measured and responsible" decision on the issue, with Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley making it clear that the decision of the government in the matter will not be based on the opinions of individuals.