Arecanut issue: MPs Nalin, Shobha meet minister Harshavardhan

Mangaluru: Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare Dr Harshavardhan has promised that he will put in special efforts to take back the affidavit that is submitted to the Supreme Court by the UPA government saying that arecanut is injurious to health.

The minister had recently given a statement in the Lok Sabha, quoting the affidavit that is submitted in the court. Soon a delegation made of MP Shobha Karandlaje, G M Siddeshwar and Narayana Swamy, led by MP Nalin and Shobha met the minister and submitted an appeal to Dr Harshavardhan and also informed the minister that there is no ill-effect from the use of arecanut. Additionally, the minister was also informed of benefits of arecanut mentioned in the study report of the Central Horticultural Research Institute.

In response to the appeal, the minister informed that already two to three meetings are held to withdraw the affidavit.