Azad calls ban on smoking on screen impractical

New Delhi, May 31: Gulam Nabi Azad, who took over the Health Ministry from A Ramadoss has disagreed with his predecessor's stance over the restrictions called for the display of smoking and tobacco use on screen.

Calling the restrictions on the display of smoking and tobacco use on screen impractical, Mr. Azad seemed to convey that it would be more useful if the filmakers would stop showing violence and murders on screen.

On Sunday, May 31 Ghulam Nabi Azab said he did not agree with the view that people got influenced by scenes they saw on screen and imitated them in real life. "It is just entertainment. There are so many objectionable things which are shown on screen like murder, arson and so on... such things should be banned first," Azad told reporters on 'No Tobacco Day'.

Maintaining that this ban was impractical, he added that 'such things' are very difficult to implement and movies are just made to be enjoyed. However, the public health experts seemed to disagree with Azad's statements and have called it 'unfortunate'.

However, Ghulam Nabi Azad earlier made it clear that there would be no review of the rule that prohibits people from smoking in public spaces that was made effective by his predecessor, A Ramadoss.

OneIndia News