Ambumani Ramadoss pitches for total prohibition in the country

NEW DELHI: PMK leader Ambumani Ramadoss today pitched for total prohibition in the country on the lines of Gujarat and said the tax on all tobacco products should be increased to 200 per cent.

Participating in the debate on the union budget in the Lok Sabha, Ramadoss said as Gujarat has imposed total prohibition, Prime Minister Narendra Modi should implement the same in the country.

But Rajiv Pratap Rudy said since excise is a state subject, states will have to take steps.

Ramadoss said tax should be imposed not only on cigarette but also bidi and other tobacco products. He said a uniform tax of 200 per cent should be imposed on tobacco products.

He said government should also provide more funds for education and toilets in schools as poor sanitation facilities in schools was one of the reasons of high dropout rate of girls.

Ramadoss' PMK is a NDA ally. Participating in the debate, Tathagata Satpathy (BJD) said the Narendra Modi government has aroused the expectations of the people.

He said now was the time for the government to "shake, rattle and roll" the magic wand. "We are with you. Not for you, but for the country," he said.

Meanwhile, Saugata Roy (TMC) raised a point of order that not many union ministers were present during the debate.

"Is it only Arun Jaitley's budget? See the treasury benches are empty," he said.

Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Thawarchand Gehlot pointed that ministers and BJP members were present in the House, leading to a war of words between BJP and opposition benches.

M Thambidurai, who was chairing the proceedings, asked the members to restore order.