TN will follow suit if Centre bans Coke, Pepsi

Chennai, Aug 8 (UNI) The Tamil Nadu Government will extend support if the Centre imposes a nation-wide ban on Coke and Pepsi, Chief Minister M Karunanidhi told the State Assembly today.

Replying to a special mention raised by Mr C Gnanasekaran (Congress), he said there were no hurdles in imposing a ban on the soft drinks.

''But what if Pondicherry or other states allowed their sale after we imposed a ban,'' he asked.

''Since we have accepted the concept of one-India, we will toe the line if the ban was imposed,'' Mr Karunanidhi said.

Earlier, raising the issue, Mr Gnanasekaran said there had been a demand across the country to ban the two soft drinks after they were found to contain pesticides.

Stating that the governments of Gujarat, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh had already banned the sale of Coke and Pepsi, he asked whether the ban would be imposed in Tamil Nadu as well.

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