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Humor / Satire
The Hari Putar Dialogues � 23
by
Rajesh Talwar
(The
Asian Age; Calcutta; Sept. 16: From October 2, even Buddha can�t smoke.
Union health minister Anbumani Ramadoss is determined to penalize West
Bengal�s chain-smoking CM Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee if found lighting up
at his Writers� Building office. A nationwide ban on smoking comes into
effect on Gandhi Jayanti. Like all offenders, Mr Bhattacharjee will have
to pay a Rs 200 fine.)
Putar::
According to a report by the Asian Age today, the Union Health Minister
is determined to penalize the Chief Minister of West Bengal if he smokes
in his office.
Hari: Buddhadeb, the Chief Minister said earlier he would continue to
smoke in his office.
Putar:: They
say that the World Health Organization has offered special smoking
cessation modules to persuade the CM to quit.
Hari: But
Buddha remains provocative by insisting that he will continue to smoke.
Putar:: Well, then the Health Minister says that he will have to pay the
Rs 200 fine.
Hari: How is the Health Minister going to enforce the action against
smoking?
Putar:: They can create a new post in the Government administration.
That of Smoking Inspectors, who go and check whether anyone is smoking.
Hari: Possibly, but although right now the Chief Minister has been seen
smoking in public places, after 2 October, he can simply close the door
to his office, open the window and start smoking, and instruct his staff
not to allow anyone inside.
Putar:: That�s true.
Hari: Ramodoss will have to get the Criminal Procedure Code amended.
Putar:: How do you mean?
Hari: Well, you know the police can be issued a search warrant by a
Magistrate under certain circumstances, just like the Income Tax
inspectors can carry out a raid. So also the Smoking Inspectors will
need these kinds of powers.
Putar:: Seems unlikely though that such a law can be passed.
Hari: There is one more solution. They can install smoke alarms in the
offices, just like they do in the toilets of aircrafts.
Putar:: That�s a lot of investment. Installing smoke detector alarms in
all the government offices will cost a lot of money.
Hari: I�m sure Ramadoss is thinking of how to trap the Chief Minister.
It will be interesting if Buddhadeb does get caught and fined.
Putar:: Well, he has been warned. Do you remember how a while ago there
was this controversy about Amitabh Bacchan smoking a cigar in a film
called �Family�.
Hari: I remember that. The Health Minister had got very upset. His view
is that youngsters especially get influenced if they see some popular
film actor smoking on the big screen.
Putar:: But Amitabh was playing the role of a mafia boss in that film
and mafia bosses are supposed to doing things like smoking cigars. It�s
part of their character in the film. In that case tomorrow the Health
Minister can be annoyed that Amitabh was drinking whisky in a film
arguing that youngsters might be influenced.
Hari: He is going too far here. Where will it end? You cannot stop
showing robberies and murders taking place on the big screen as well,
even though young people may be influenced. The Minister ought not to
insist, as he has been doing that film and TV stars must be shown
smoking outside buildings in movies and serials.
Putar:: The cigarette companies must be watching this war of words
between two senior Indian politicians with interest. I don�t suppose
that they are over fond of the Union Health Minister.
Hari: I guess not. On the other hand the report in the newspaper states
that West Bengal has reportedly lost millions in anti-tobacco funding
because its CM has been photographed smoking in public places.
Putar:: Tell me something Papaji?
Hari: Bol, Putar?
Putar:: Dr Ramadoss, in a letter to Mr Bhattacharjee, has urged him to
show the same leadership in implementing the anti-smoking ban as he is
showing in promoting industrial growth.
Hari: That is correct, Putar:
Putar:: So he has given the CM credit for promoting industrial growth.
And industries also create smoke and pollution, don�t they?
Hari: Yes, of course.
Putar:: And the smoke from industries also affects the health of people.
Hari: No doubt about that, Putar: Don�t you remember how some
years ago the Supreme Court ordered hundreds of smoke throwing
industries in Delhi to close down?
Putar:. That�s true. So, in that case, shouldn�t the Health Minister be
equally focused on getting industry �not to smoke so much�?
Hari: That is very important, it�s true.
Putar:: But he would need the help of State Governments to make this
happen.
Hari: Of course he would.
Putar:: So can�t the Union Health Minister and the Chief Minister arrive
at a compromise?
Hari: What kind of compromise?
Putar:: Don�t you think that Ramadoss should make an offer to Buddhadeb
that if he can stop industry all over West Bengal from smoking so much
then as a special favor he can be allowed to smoke in his office?
Hari: I don�t know, Putar.
September 21, 2008
Image under license with
Gettyimages.com
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