BJP to be blamed for areca ban proposal, says Ivan

BJP to be blamed for areca ban proposal, says Ivan

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, Dec 29, 2013:  If the entire BJP bandwagon has been blaming the Congress for the areca ban proposal, KPCC Secretary Ivan D’Souza has instead chosen to blame the BJP for the same.

Speaking to reporters here on December 27, Friday, Ivan said it was the NDA government which was in power at the Centre when an expert committee formed in 2001 under the leadership of then PM Vajpayee had said that chewing arecanut was carcinogenic and that there were evidences to prove the same.

Therefore, the BJP is the main reason for the arecanut ban proposal and the affidavit filed in the Supreme Court by the Union Health Ministry, Ivan said.

Ivan further said tobacco should be banned prior to arecanut for its harmful effects. Ivan charged CAMPCO of trying to mislead the growers instead of protecting their interests.

He also tried to allay the fear in the minds of growers saying the Congress was likely to withdraw the affidavit.

On the Derlakatte case wherein two medical students were kidnapped and blackmailed, Ivan said Goonda Act must be invoked on the accused.