Warnings on cigarette packets have little effect: Arvind Kejriwal

Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday justified his government's decision to ban sale of chewable tobacco items in the national capital saying it was beneficial in long run even, but said warnings on the cigarette packets had little effect on those who consume it.

He said, those affected by the ban will slowly move on to selling other products.

"The gutkha sellers sell a lot of other items. They sell paan... I think it is transition period. In some days something else will replace gutkha. They can start selling something else. Potato chips or something else. But in the long run, people's health will be fine," Kejriwal said.

" It (warning) should be written...if you think smoking is injurious to health... but it does not have an effect on the smokers," Kejriwal said.

The Delhi chief minister was speaking at an event organised by Confederation of Industry and Chamber.

Commenting on a parliamentary panel's recommendation to the government to hold its proposal to increase the size of pictorial warnings on tobacco products from its present 40 per cent to 85 per cent, Kejriwal said there could be a possible link between the tobacco lobby and those who advocated the move.

"There is a link between the tobacco and cancer. Those who are speaking in favour of it could have some connection with the tobacco lobby," Kejriwal said.