Maharashtra to ban gutka, pan masala

Maharashtra government was contemplating a ban on gutka and pan masala products, Deputy Chief Minister and senior Nationalist Congress Party leader Ajit Pawar said in Mumbai on Sunday.

"It does not matter even if we face a loss of Rs 100 crore in tax from gutka and pan masala. Compromising with the lives of the youth is unacceptable. We will soon bring in a legislation in this regard," Pawar said, while speaking during the launch of Rashtravadi Yuvati Congress, on the occasion of 13th anniversary of the Sharad Pawar-led party.

The proposal would be soon put before the cabinet, he said.

Among other things, Pawar also said that Nationalist Congress Party members of Legislative Assembly in the state would allocate Rs 20 lakh each from their MLA funds for constructing toilets for women.