January 22, 2025

How stupid can you get? D K Gandhi, a BJP member of parliament from Maharashtra, who is on the parliamentary committee formed to suggest ways of curbing smoking, has said that there is no independent Indian evidence to prove that smoking causes cancer.

No independent Indian evidence? Do politicians in India establish research institutes of excellence and/or provide funds for cutting edge research in the country? So where will this “independent Indian evidence” come from?

Is he suggesting that there are two kinds of medical sciences â€" one for India and another for the rest of the world? Or does the man seem to suggest that Indian lungs are sturdier than those in the West and cigarettes can cause cancer to Western smokers but not to Indian smokers?

In one shot, the man is trying to rubbish confirmed medical findings that have stood the test of time and have been proved beyond doubt, based on which smokers pay hefty add-on premiums for their medical and life insurance. The fact that smoking causes cancer and results in untimely or early death has resulted in US courts awarding hefty compensations to people dying of smoking related complications, including cancer. The most reported lung cancer deaths due to excessive smoking were those of the models in the Marlboro advertisements that sought to show smoking as a cool and manly thing.

At a time when governments worldwide are trying to put curbs on smoking and cigarette companies are devising ways of diversifying, this man says something which is stupid at best and sinister at worst.

Is he really such a fool, or has he been compromised by the pro-smoking lobby?