By IANS
New Delhi : A group of ministers (GoM) Wednesday deferred its decision on the controversial issue of displaying the skull and crossbones warning on the cover of beedi packets.
The GoM, headed by External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee, discussed the issue at a meeting here, but failed to take a final decision.
The GoM had met May 23, but could not take any decision as there was no quorum.
As per provisions of the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Packaging and Labelling) Rules 2006, the health ministry had directed the warning on all tobacco products, covering half of the package, should come into effect from June 1.
However, the government came under severe pressure from MPs in Andhra Pradesh, Kerala and West Bengal not to include beedi in the ambit of the law as it would adversely affect the beedi industry.
Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss had argued that the decision on pictorial warning would be implemented as studies have shown that beedi contained higher concentration of nicotine, and that 50 percent of cancer deaths were attributed to tobacco consumption.
Beedi accounts for at least 45 percent of tobacco consumption in India.