BJP asks UP govt to ban gutkha

"When 13 states in the country can impose a complete ban on sale of gutkha, why cannot the UP government? Under what pressure the government is not willing to impose the ban?" BJP spokesman Vijay Bahadur Pathak told reporters here.

Questioning the "sincerity" of the state government in restricting use of gutkha and pan masala containing tobacco, the Allahabad High Court had said if the state failed to ensure compliance with guidelines issued by the Centre in this regard, the court may issue directions to concerned authorities to follow legal provisions for imposing a ban on such products.

Pathak said the Centre has informed the state under which rules gutkha and tobacco mixed panmasala could be banned.