Gutkha named after Sant Kabir banned in Varanasi

Varanasi, June 11 (UNI) Taking cognizance of gutkha and tobbaco being marketed in the name of saints and gods in this holy city, the District Administration has prohibited the production and sale of one such product named after Sant Kabir.

District Magistrate Rajiv Agrawal told UNI here today the decision was taken to prohibit the production and sale of 'Gutkha' and 'Zarda,' being marketed in pouches bearing the name and pictures of Sant Kabir -- the famous saint of Bhakti Movement.

The godown of the concerned tobbaco company located in the Aurangabad area was also sealed following raids yesterday, he added.

The move comes close on the heels of protest by followers of Kabir Panth (sect) who had yesterday burnt a bonfire of pouches of the 'Gutkha' and 'Zarda' bearing the name and picture of the saint.

They had also voiced protest against the sale of a popular 'Gutkha' named after another saint and the author of Ramcharitmanas, Goswami Tulsidas.

''We took swift congizance of the protest and realised the sale of such product would injure the sentiments of people, following which a decision was made to ban the production and sale of the product," concerned Mr Agrawal added.

The DM, further, said though the decision had been taken on a particular case, but banning production and sale of such products bearing names or pictures of saints, gods and goddesses, cannot be ruled out in the immediate future.

UNI ARS NAB PA BST1434