Navjot opposes tobacco VAT cut, threatens to move court

Thursday, 06/02/2014

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cps (Health) advocates 65 per cent levy; gives govt 15 days’ ultimatum

Chandigarh : The firebrand BJP MLA from Amritsar (East) and Chief Parliamentary Secretary (Health and Family Welfare) Navjot Kaur Sidhu has once again fired a salvo on her own SAD-BJP combine government in Punjab.

This time, this first-timer doctor-turned-politician wife of cricketer-turned-politician BJP Member of Parliament Navjot Singh Sidhu is unhappy over the recent decision of the Punjab government to roll back taxes on cigarettes from 55 to 22 per cent. She has even threatened to move the court if her demand is not met within 15 days.

Expressing pity that the land of “gurus”, who had always preached against use of tobacco, is having one of the lowest taxes on tobacco products, the CPS called a press conference here on Wednesday to advocate 60 to 65 per cent value added tax (VAT) on tobacco products in Punjab.

“I advocate that VAT on tobacco should be increased to 60 to 65 per cent in Punjab. With this, we can save numerous lives and crores of rupees in healthcare costs because on an average, smokers increase their risk of lung cancer from 5 to 10 fold and smoking is responsible for more than 80 per cent of lung cancer,” she asserted.

The BJP leader further stated that 24 per cent of men, who smoke, can expect to develop cancer in their lifetime. “Tobacco use is the single most important cause of bladder cancer, accounting for an estimated 40 to 70 per cent of the cases. Smoking is responsible for 30 per cent of pancreatic cancer,” she revealed.

Divulging the ill-effects of tobacco on women, the doctor-turned-politician said breast cancer has shown marked upward trend in smoking women. Colon cancer risk is also marking upward trend among smokers.

“Seeing the disastrous, irreversible effects of smoking, it will be inhuman to promote smoking by decreasing VAT. Immediate increase in VAT is mandatory to save human lives. If any action is not taken within 15 days, I shall be forced to approach the court of law for remedial action,” the CPS asserted, while pointing out that most cancer patients in Punjab reel under the pressure of astronomical cost of treatment.

Giving comparison of VAT on tobacco products in other states, Sidhu added that Rajasthan increased the levy from 12.5 per cent to 50 per cent and Uttar Pradesh from 17 per cent to 50 per cent. “Punjab very sadly is among the states having lowest taxes on tobacco products,” she rued.

Pertinently, the state government had recently reduced VAT on tobacco products on the ground that ever since it was increased in the Budget for 2013-14, the smuggling of tobacco products had increased manifold in the state, leading to heavy financial losses and failing to reduce their use, which was otherwise the main idea behind the move.

However, several civil society organisations, working against use of tobacco, had refused to buy this reasoning of the state government and had been vociferously opposing the government decision.