Now, Buddhadeb in Ramadoss’ line of smoke

Health minister says Bengal CM should quit smoking

NEW DELHI: After actors Shah Rukh Khan, Amitabh Bachchan and Rajnikant for smoking on screen, health minister Anbumani Ramadoss has now trained his guns on West Bengal chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee.

During a function in New Delhi on Thursday, Ramadoss said Bhattacharjee was a leader and he should set an example for others. Reading out statistics from the National Family Health Survey 3 during the release of the Global Youth Tobacco Survey, Ramdoss said: “About 70.2% of men in West Bengal smoke, including their chief minister.”

However, when asked to comment further and whether he has any advice for Bhattacharjee, the health minister said: “He is a very senior person and I am a small individual. He doesn’t need advice.”

A known chain smoker, Bhattacharya reportedly smokes in his chamber despite a ban on smoking in the Writer’s Building that hosts his office. Ramadoss’ remarks came a day after Bhattacharjee openly expressed his intentions to defy any smoking ban and made it clear he would continue to puff in his office.

Ramadoss, who was honoured with an award last year by the World Health Organisation for his anti-tobacco campaign, had earlier appealed to actors to stop smoking onscreen since it influences the youth.

p_vineeta@dnaindia.net