E-cigarettes banned to prevent youth from falling prey to intoxication: PM

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday (September 29) stated that e-cigarettes were banned to prevent the youth from falling into the new way of intoxication.

Explaining the rationale behind banning the e-cigarettes, in his latest edition of “Mann Ki Baat,” he said there are several misconceptions being spread about the use of e-cigarettes, including the one which says that it is not harmful to health.

Urging the youth to shun use of e-cigarettes, Modi said they are becoming popular due to the lack of awareness.

Earlier this month, the central government announced a ban on all forms of e-cigarettes in India. Under the new law, sale, purchase, import, manufacture, storage, and distribution of e-cigarettes is banned. Failing to comply with the law will attract a maximum punishment of a three-year jail term and ₹5 lakh penalty.

Modi also spoke at length about shunning single-use plastic and pitched for plogging as the new way to keep the surroundings clean along with the self-health.

He also urged people to organise special programmes where daughters will be felicitated during the upcoming Diwali for the contribution they are making for the development of the nation.

The Prime Minister also advocated people publishing their daugthers’ achievements on social media and advised the use of hashtag #BharatKiLakshmi.