Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Oct 9: In a flagrant disregard for established rules and regulations, a surrogate advertisement promoting a tobacco product has surfaced at Srinagar International Airport, right under the nose of the authorities.
Despite assurances of stringent enforcement by concerned officials, the offending billboard remains in place, while the Health authorities in district Budgam claim to have alerted the Airport management about the issue, requesting its removal, but as of yet, they have received no response.
Experts have identified the billboard at Srinagar International Airport as a surrogate advertisement, serving as a substitute for products that cannot be directly promoted due to legal restrictions.
This controversial advertisement prominently features Bollywood stars Ajay Devgan, Akshay Kumar, and Shah Rukh Khan endorsing Vimal Pan Masala, a tobacco product, in a manner that blatantly violates the law.
Section 5 of The Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply, and Distribution) Act, 2003, explicitly prohibits the advertising of cigarettes or any other tobacco products. It also forbids any involvement in advertisements that directly or indirectly encourage the use or consumption of such products.
Notably, a few days ago, during an event held under the National Tobacco Control Program (NTCP), Advisor to LG Manoj Sinha, R.R. Bhatnagar, emphasized the need for better enforcement and coordination among various stakeholders to combat the adverse effects of tobacco in society. He underscored that tobacco use often serves as a gateway to the consumption of other drugs and alcohol, necessitating stringent measures to mitigate its impact.
Previously, a similar advertisement was spotted in Lal Chowk. However, following public attention and concerns raised, it was promptly removed.
Dr. Ayoub Feteh, the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) of Budgam, confirmed that they have written to the Srinagar Airport authorities, formally requesting the removal of the controversial advertisement.
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