Press release (translated from Tamil) Stop the Cigarette Music Concert! Dr. Anbumani Ramadoss Requests the Chief Minister of Tamilnadu Request for stopping the concert “be Tamil Nadu’s Next Singing Sensation” and other cigarette advertisements CHENNAI, January 22: Smoking is a life endangering habit. Tobacco related diseases lead to ten lakh premature deaths a year in India, resulting in 2500 deaths per day. Many youth in Tamil Nadu are already addicted to the smoking habit. While so the habit is targeted and thrust upon the people of Tamil Nadu vide lucrative cigarette advertisements and music concerts. The Government should immediately stop these illegal advertisements and music concerts. Display of cigarette advertisements and conducting music concerts are violation and punishable offences under Section 5 of the “Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act 2003 (COTPA)”. Where as many shops have displayed the advertisement, “FOUR SQUARE – GET FOMOUS – be Tamil Nadu’s Next Singing Sensation.” The entrance tickets for the music concert are issued to the youth by the representatives of FOUR SQUARE cigarette brand. “FOUR SQUARE – GET FOMOUS – be Tamil Nadu’s Next Singing Sensation” concert have been held in Chennai. In the concerts the renowned film singers and music composers have participated. In the events held at Padma Ram Mahal, No. 83, Arcot Road. Kodambakkam, Chennai-24, on 09.01.2010 and at Vijaya Mahal, No. 33, Pondy Bazar, on 10.01.2010, organized by the Four Square brand, Composer Mr. Vijay Antony, singers Mirchi suchitra and Karthick have participated and given performances. In the further events it is campaigned that singers Ranjit and Mathangi would also be participating. These unlawful events have been held in Chennai with the support of the police. It is very shocking to notice that the police besides giving permission for the unlawful act has stood alley by giving protection for the event. Government must take action now. Pasumai Thaayagam already filed complaints on this issue with Tamil Nadu Police, City Corporation and Ministry of Health. There is legal ban that prohibits the cigarette companies and the retailers from giving free gifts. Display of large boards (other than 60’x90’boards with 40 percent of the same containing the 1 warning) are prohibited. In violation of these large lucrative boards are displayed and free gifts of mobile iPOD, memory sticks, lighters and additional cigarettes are offered as gifts for those who buy a packet of cigarette. It is very shocking that the government is not acting to stop these violations. As per the estimate of the cigarette companies in a month, 8.5 billion cigarettes are sold all over India and in Tamil Nadu alone 840 million cigarettes are sold. Tamil Nadu has the ignobility of ranking second, next to Andhra, in the graph of national cigarette sale. It is stated that out of the overall total cigarette sale in India 10 percent is sold in Tamil Nadu. As if to disgrace further the FOUR SQUARE cigarettes have been introduced in Tamil Nadu by Godfrey Phillips and are intensively advertised and promoted since May 2009. In competition the ITC, the largest tobacco company in India, has increased the advertisements. The Tamil Nadu Government should no more remain as a mere spectator for the cigarette advertisement violations stipulated under the Indian Tobacco Control Act (COTPA 3003). I humbly pray to the Honorable Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu: • To ensure initiative to remove the unlawful cigarette advertisements • To ban all further events of “FOUR SQUARE – GET FOMOUS – be Tamil Nadu’s Next Singing Sensation” music concerts. • To initiate legal action and to punish all that were involved organizers, promoters, sponsors, partners who were part of the concerts events held at Padma Ram Mahal, Kodambakkam,Chennai-24, on 09.01.2010 and at Vijaya Mahal, T.Nagar, Chennai-17 on 10.01.2010 and thereby to safeguard the lives of the youth of Tamil Nadu. Dr. ANBUMANI RAMADOSS, M.B.,B.S. Member of Parliament Former Union Health Minister Contact: PASUMAI THAAYAGAM (Green Motherland), No. 9, (old No: 5), Lyn wood Lane, Mahalingapuram, CHENNAI - 600 034, Tamil Nadu, India Email: [email protected] 2.