Srinagar, Jan 28:  Barely two days after Budgam was declared “Smoke Free” on the Republic Day, the local MLA Aga Ruhullah Mehdi Saturday had some candid confession as the young Cabinet Minister pledged that he would quit smoking so that the central Kashmir district, he represents, gets more of voluntary support in the endeavour.
 While addressing a function in connection with the recent announcement of “Smoke Free Budgam”, Ruhullah, Minister for IT and Animal Husbandry, said: “I may not say no more of it(puffing) from today or tomorrow. But I’ll definitely leave this place with a promise that this is the time to start saying no to it, cutting down it.”
 Starting his speech with keenly chosen words, the Minister said: “This is a topic which in practical life I don’t practice and unfortunately happen to be a slave of it. But there’s not a single word which can endorse smoking. There’s not a single reason that a person will start smoking.”
 “Talking in practicality, it only starts as a style statement… This is the case with most people (smokers),” he added.
 “The slavery which I have accepted drives one towards worst. It hurts your pocket not only in short term but even in long term, hurts your health,” he said.
 Referring to the migration of people towards Budgam district, nearest to the summer Capital, he said: “Everyone has been choosing Budgam. For elites, Budgam was always a preference. But the benefits we were given by these elites are very little.”
 He hailed the efforts of Voluntary Health Association of India (VHAI) Executive Director AM Mir, DDC Budgam, Muhammad Rafi and ADC Dr Shah Faesal for their efforts in making the district smoke free.
 Ruhullah said he was inspired to start quit smoking as a “mark of respect towards these driving forces.
 “And being the Chief Guest on this occasion, I now have a moral responsibility.”
 Responding to media queries over government’s seriousness in countering smoking but little or no efforts to counter liquor trade, the Minister said: “Had it been up to my conscious, I would ban it (liquor trade) right today. But then there are issues… Government is making efforts that no more licenses for liquor trade are given, no new liquor shops are opened.”
 Earlier, in his address, the President Houseboat Owners Association, Muhammad Azim Tuman said the floating marvels would be made no smoking zones and that his fraternity would lend all possible support to the government in this regard.
 “Basically, cigarettes are risky for houseboats because the latter is made of wood and a spark can be disastrous and the same has already reduced many houseboats to cinder,” Tuman said.
 He however said there was a change in the perception of the people.
 “Till 20 to 25 years back there used to be dozens of ashtrays in houseboats. Now we have mere one or two,” Tuman said.
 The HBOA Chairman said he quit smoking some two decades ago. “I remember the date and time. It was 7:30 AM, 22nd  December 2005 during Holy pilgrimage that I quit smoking forever,” he said.
 Like many others, Tuman confessed that the Bollywood stars had attracted him towards smoking.
 “I started smoking in 1959 on being inspired by Raj Kapoor’s Barsaat. Thereafter it was Ashok Kumar who would smoke in every movie. Moreover Rajni Kanth’s style of holding a cigarette was equally attractive,” he admitted.
 Tuman said he used to be a chain-smoker puffing four to five Gold Flake double packs everyday. But now times have changed, he added.
 Talking to Greater Kashmir, the VHAI state chapter head AM Mir said the association was trying its best to make entire Kashmir smoke free.
 “Though it may take time but a day will come when nobody will smoke… and we are trying our best on the front,” he said.
 Meanwhile awards were given to Aga Ruhullah Mehdi, Deputy Commissioner Budgam Muhammed Rafi, Addl DDC Budgam, Shah Faesal, AK Wani, Senior. Programme Manager, Nazir Ahmed Deputy Commissioner Controller Drug & Food Control and Asst Controller and Food Inspectors of Budgam district.

Lastupdate on : Sat, 28 Jan 2012 21:30:00 Mecca time
Lastupdate on : Sat, 28 Jan 2012 18:30:00 GMT
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