Former Karnataka Chief Ministers Sadananda Gowda and KS Eshwarappa met Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday and urged him not to prohibit sale of areca nut in Gujarat. The former CMs were accompanied by a seven-member delegation from Cocoa Marketing and Processing Cooperative (Compco).
The delegation lauded the decision of banning gutkha by States like Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka and other States for health reason. However, they urged the Gujarat CM not to ban areca nut looking to larger interest of farmers in Karnataka and Kerala. According to the delegation, areca nut is used for other purposes too, and therefore it is improper to impose ban on it.
Protesting the Maharashtra Government’s decision to ban areca nut, they said that the State Government had not taken the religious sentiments of the people into consideration. They said that Modi assured them of not imposing ban on areca nut as these nuts are considered auspicious and offered to god in prayers and religious ceremonies across the country. The delegation welcomed Modi’s approach on this issue.
CM Modi Condemns attack on soldiers
In wake of killing of Indian soldiers in Poonch sector of Kashmir on Monday, BJP’s campaign committee chief Narendra Modi slammed the UPA Government and said that from China’s intrusions to Pakistan’s ambushes, the Congress led Government has been absolutely lax in securing Indian borders.
“When will the Centre wake upIJ” he asked. The Gujarat Chief Minister termed the killing of Indian soldiers at the hands of the Pakistan as “dastardly and unacceptable”. PNS