Punjab unit of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Friday supported the present rule of displaying pictorial warning on 85 percent space of tobacco product packets.

The party also condemned the parliamentarians who are working under the pressure of tobacco lobby and supporting the demand to reduce the size to 50 per cent of the packets.

AAP MPs Bhagwant Mann and Prof Sadhu Singh said that those who are supporting the demand to reduce the size are actually not concerned about the families of 21 lakh people who are dying every year by consuming tobacco. “These people are more concerned about the tobacco companies than the common people of the country,” they said, in a joint statement.

Mann said that the size of pictorial warning in Nepal is 90 percent while as per the international standard, it is suggested to display warning picture on 85 per cent part of packet. “In India, earlier the size was 40 per cent of packet but after the report of parliamentary committee, it was increased to 50 percent. After the pressure from the NGOs, medical organisations and general public, the size was increased to 85 percent and implemented from April 1, 2016,” he said.

Prof Sadhu Singh said that the tobacco lobby couldn’t digest the move and started forcing the Government through some MPs.

“As per the reports, the government has to spend Rs 1,04,000 crore on the diseases resulted by using tobacco products. AAP will not tolerate any plan of the government that can harm the citizens of the country,” he added.

Mann said, “Everyday about 5,500 people are adding in the list of tobacco users. So now, it is more important to inform the people about ill-effects of using tobacco in any form. In India where people in rural areas are illiterate, pictorials warning can  aware people. The tobacco companies should respect the ruling of Rajasthan High Court and display the pictorial warning on 85 percent part of packets.”