Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said that a meeting of areca growers and also legislators of areca growing districts would be convened soon to address their apprehensions following a ban on sale of gutkha in the state.
Replying to a Calling Attention moved by Opposition leader in the State Legislative Council D V Sadananda Gowda here on Thursday, the CM said the government would stand by the areca growers and extend all possible help to them.
“The areca farmers need not worry over the ban on manufacture, sale and stock of gutkha and paan masala across the state. In fact, the rates for different varieties of areca nuts have increased in the last one week. The arecanut used by the manufacturers of gutkha was of low quality grown in Bangladesh and Indonesia,” he said.
The Chief Minister said the government took the decision as per directions of the Supreme Court.
“There is a need to ban the sale of beedi, cigarettes and liquor because of people’s addiction to bad habits. It is very difficult to make people stay away from these bad habits through law as the wish to leave these habits should come from within. The number of drunkards has not come down after the government banned the sale of arrack. In fact, the number has gone up,” he said.
Siddaramaiah clarified that the government has not yielded to any lobby to ban the sale of gutkha.
“It has been done in a transparent manner as per directions of the apex court,” he added.
Session May be Extended
The Business Advisory Committee (BAC) of state Legislature is said to have decided to extend the ongoing session of both the Houses for five more days.
According to official sources, the sessions, which were scheduled to conclude on Friday, may be extended till June 12.
A formal decision to this effect is expected to be taken on Friday.
The decision in this effect was reportedly taken at the BAC meeting chaired by Assembly Speaker Kagodu Thimmappa, which was attended by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and members of the JD(S) and the BJP.