📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Vyacheslav Argenberg
Politics
BJP Criticizes Karnataka's Gutkha Ban, Warns of Impact on Areca Growers
✍️ The Economic Times
🗓 15 Aug 2026, 11:36 AM
👁 23
The Bharatiya Janata Party has voiced opposition to Karnataka's recent ban on gutkha, arguing that the move could hurt areca nut growers who rely on the product.
Karnataka has recently imposed a ban on the sale and distribution of gutkha, a chewing tobacco product that contains areca nut and has been a major source of income for many local growers. The ban was announced as part of the state's efforts to curb tobacco use and improve public health.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has publicly opposed the decision, stating that it will adversely affect the livelihoods of areca nut farmers who depend on the gutkha market. Party representatives have urged the state government to reconsider the ban or provide alternative avenues for these farmers.
BJP officials argue that the ban could lead to a loss of revenue for small-scale growers and disrupt the supply chain that supports local economies. They have called for a balanced approach that addresses health concerns while safeguarding agricultural interests.
The Karnataka government has defended the ban as a necessary public health measure, citing rising cases of oral cancers linked to gutkha consumption. The debate is expected to continue as both sides present their arguments to the state legislature and the public.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has publicly opposed the decision, stating that it will adversely affect the livelihoods of areca nut farmers who depend on the gutkha market. Party representatives have urged the state government to reconsider the ban or provide alternative avenues for these farmers.
BJP officials argue that the ban could lead to a loss of revenue for small-scale growers and disrupt the supply chain that supports local economies. They have called for a balanced approach that addresses health concerns while safeguarding agricultural interests.
The Karnataka government has defended the ban as a necessary public health measure, citing rising cases of oral cancers linked to gutkha consumption. The debate is expected to continue as both sides present their arguments to the state legislature and the public.