Congress welcomes govt's move to ban e-cigarettes with riders

Welcoming government's decision to ban e-cigarettes in the country, the Congress has raised few questions asking why it had too wait for the US to ban it first and if other products like 'Pan Masala' were not banned.

New Delhi: The Congress on Wednesday welcomed Union Government's decision to ban e-cigarettes in the country but questioned why other products that cause health hazards were not banned.

Senior Congress leader Ajay Maken, welcoming the government's move to ban e-cigarettes, raised questions on its timing and said if products such as 'Pan Masala' ( a mixture of areca nut with slaked lime, catechu and other flavoring agents) do not cause any health problem.

Talking to reporters here, the Congress leader also asked if the government did it on the signal of the US.

"Why the ban now? Was the government waiting for the US to ban it," he asked.

Earlier in the day, announcing the government's decision to ban e-cigarettes, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said the government would pass an ordinance immediately subject to President's approval to give effect to the ban. The government would also introduce a bill in Parliament in the winter session in this regard, she added.