Bengaluru, Aug 15 : Karnataka Health Minister U.T. Khader on Saturday dismissed speculation that the state government had withdrawn its ban on gutka, clarifying that the government order specifically prohibits nicotine-laced gutka and pan masala and remains in force.
Addressing reporters in Bengaluru, Khader said the decision was taken primarily from a public health perspective and maintained that it would not adversely affect Karnataka’s arecanut growers, farmers or traders. He stressed that there was no ban on arecanut cultivation, production or trade and assured farmers of continued government support.
“The order is only against nicotine in pan masala. There is no ban on arecanut. Our department and the government will continue to provide complete support and encouragement to arecanut growers, farmers and traders,” Khader said.
The minister argued that the restriction on nicotine-containing products could, in fact, benefit arecanut growers by potentially pushing up prices. According to him, Indian arecanut is not generally used in the manufacture of gutka, with manufacturers allegedly sourcing significant quantities from countries such as Nepal and Bangladesh.
Khader sought to allay concerns among farmers and traders, saying the government’s decision would not negatively affect the arecanut economy. He urged stakeholders to wait for a few months before assessing the impact of the order.
“Those involved in the arecanut trade will not face any problem because of this decision. Give it three months and see,” he said.
The Health Minister recalled the controversy surrounding an earlier move to prohibit gutka and said similar apprehensions had been raised at that time regarding its possible impact on arecanut prices. He said he had strongly defended the decision then, with Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar also backing the move.
Khader claimed that arecanut prices had actually increased within three months of the earlier decision, arguing that the latest restrictions on nicotine-laced pan masala would likewise not cause financial hardship to cultivators.
He further maintained that neither the Health Department nor the state government had taken any step with the intention of harming arecanut farmers or traders. According to Khader, the Chief Minister had also discussed the issue and made it clear that protecting public health remained the priority while ensuring that farmers did not suffer.
“The Chief Minister has also made it clear that arecanut growers should not face any difficulty. From the health perspective, this is a good decision,” Khader said.
The clarification comes amid a political controversy over reports that the Karnataka government was considering withdrawing its gutka ban order shortly after its implementation. Legislators from different political parties had reportedly expressed concerns over the possible impact on arecanut growers in several districts.
Karnataka BJP president B.Y. Vijayendra had accused the state government of attempting to “strike at” farmers and arecanut growers through the move, claiming that the decision had created uncertainty among cultivators.
Khader’s statement, however, seeks to draw a distinction between restrictions on nicotine-containing gutka and pan masala and the state’s broader arecanut sector, insisting that the government’s action is aimed at protecting public health rather than targeting farmers.
