HINDUSTANTIMES, MUMBAI SATURDAY, JANUARY 01, 2011

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to ffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffitrksffi hty -%}":&Yffi$T.Ask Saniay Dutt to stop endorsing tobacco products HTGorrespondent Dr Ravikanth Singh, president, Dutt Trust. He knows how dif- How can m [email protected] Doctors for You. ficult isthis addiction. The doctors said they want he advertise, even though sur- MUMBAhThis New Year,doctors Actors, who are role models for rogate, for a product that is hnd activistswant actor Sanjay the public, to act responsibly. addictive and"causes cancer," Dutt to make a healthy "Sachin Tendulkar set avery said Dr PankajChaturvedi, asso resolution. good example when he refused ciate professor,head and neck, About 1,500members of the to endorse an aleohol brand;" department, Tata Memorial Maharashtra Assobiation of said,Dr Pankaj Nalawade, gen- Hospital. ResidentDoctora MARD) from eral secretary, MARD, KEM The doctors are alsodemand- I(EM Hospital and Doctors for Hospital. ing the removal of posters with You, an NGO working in the The letter address to Dutt GoaGutkha advertisementfoom area of health and education, states that advertisements of r Actor $aniay Dutt endorsesa BEST buses and other prime havewritten to Dutt asking him tobacco products target teens tobaccoproduct. HTFILE PHoro locations in the city. "If we do to quit smoking apd stop andyouth and the actor's asso- not get a positive reply from endorsing tobacco products. ciation with the promotional Regardlessofwhether it con- Dutt, then we plan to start dif- "Through this letter, we are campaign increases the sales tains tobacco, gutkha is harm- ferent kind of activities as a requesting him to stop endors- byexploitihg his influence over frrl as it contains betel nut. protest," said Dr Nalawade. ing tobacco products. Dutt has the vulnerable community. "sanjay Dutt has seen the "Peoplelove Sanjay Dutt and a huge following after the suc- The doctorsplanto send sim- pains related to cancer very if he endorses such products, cessof films such as Munn abhai ilar letberto actor Malaika Arora closely.His father donated heav- more people would use them," MBBS. His fans get influenced Khan, who is also endorsing a ily for treatment of poor cancer saidAnant Christian, anti-tobac- by such advertisements," said gutkha brand. patients through the Nargis co activist from Gujarat.

pEi:li, $ S3 S s.\tr gT \: FO R T'N t tl Fr r --,_-_-_ MEDICALASSOCIATION SAYS HIS GUTKA AD GOES AGAINST HIS FATHER'S CAMPAIGN AGAINST CANCER Docspromise Munnabhai jadoo ki ihappi SantoshAndhale and Indian Medical Associ- why a gutka company has ation, are part of the cam- signed him for its advertis- As a New Year resolution, paign against use of tobac- ing campaign is to use his city doctors have requested co products. popularity to gain oew cus- actor Sanjay Dutt to stop en- Three months ago,doctors tomers. Increase in gutka dorsing a brand of gutka and had protested against sales will lead to a propor- to stop smoking. Guzaarish, a film that fea- tionate increase in mouth Reminding him that his tured posters showing Aish- cancer. "India is already the father, late actor and politi warya Rai smoking. Many oral cancer capital of the cian SunilDutt, hadbeen in- felt that the image should not world. Wehave, therefore, re- volved in spreading aware- have been used to promote quested him to help stop the ness about cancer, the doc- the movie. Doctors said that advertisement," he said. tors have written an open let- these images send a wrong Dr Pankaj Nalavade, sec- terto the actor askinghim to messageto impressionable retary of MARD, said, "Dutt terminate his endorsement youth who are inclined to won us with his character in gutka imitate Bollywood idols. Munnabhai. However, he contract with a manu- File photo of Sanjay Dutt at a shoot for an advertisement. Doctors had been vocal has broken our hearts by his facturer. Doctors want him.to stop endorsing a gutka brand Sunil Dutt had set up a about their dissatisfaction constant association With trust named after Nargis, and had worn black badges gutka, which is recognised his wife and Sanjay's moth- states. "If we do not see an ka brand, the doctors have to protest the poster. as a cancer causing sub- er, who died of cancer. En- end to this ad by January 26, even offered to pay him from Dr Ravikant Singh, con- stance even by manufactur- dorsing the tobaccoproduct we will wait outside your the donations raised by med- vener of Doctors for You, a ers. This endorsement does 'jadoo is against the philosophy of house and offer ki ical students and resident non-profit organisation not a suit a man who has his father who spent a lot of jhappi' so that you'get well doctors. working in the medical fleld, witnessed the pain of can- money and time creating soon'...as taught by you,".it Hospitals involved in can- said that a popular actor like cer inhis ownfamily We are awarenessabout the disease adds. cer treatment, like the Tata Dutt should not endorse to- waiting for a positive re- ahd the importance of its In case it is the money that Memorial, and groups like bacco products becausehe sponse and will decide our early detection for effective is temping Dutt to continue Maharashtra Resident Doc- can influence teenagers and future course of action after treatment, the doctors' letter his associati,onwith the gut- tors Association (MARD) young people. "The reason January 26."