January 18, 2005

THE GOVERNMENT AND OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR IS AGAIN AT ITS WORST BY PARTICIPATING IN THE AWARD CEREMONY IN THE NAME OF THE CIGARETTE BRAND "RED AND WHITE." EVERYONE KNOWS THAT "RED & WHITE" IS NOTHING BUT A TRADE NAME OF A CIGARETTE. WE PROTEST AND DEMAND THE REMOVAL OF THE GOVERNOR.

On the one hand we are enacting a law to prevent the spread of tobacco and on the other the Government and the Governor is participating in the surrogate publicity of tobacco products. The governor General Roudrigues presided over the award ceremony of "Red & White." Everyone knows what "Red & White" is and why these awards are given in the name of a brand name of a cigarette. It is banned by the law seems to make little difference to the big shot abusers of the law. Such Government officials should be immediately removed from their office. These people are a part to an organized genocide led by a few tobacco companies which kills many times more people every month than the killer tsunami disaster. Shouldn't such supporters of genocide be removed?

Shri Manmohan Singh,
The Prime Minister of India,
South Block, Raisina Hill,
New Delhi 110 011. }
Fax: 91-11-23019545 / 91-11-23016857.

REQUEST FOR REMOVING THE GOVERNOR OF PUNJAB GEN. ROUDRIGUES FROM HIS OFFICE

Sir,

Another year, another governor and yet again the promotion of a cigarette brand “Red and White” by the office of the Governor. The spirit of the constitution, the guidelines of the Government, the rulings of the supreme court and the law of the land going in for a toss. Things like courts, laws, regulations, orders, guidelines, etc. appears to be for the lesser mortal’s only. This is how the things are growing; from bad to worse.

We request you to immediately recall General Rodrigues and relieve him of his charge as the Administrator of Chandigarh and the Governor of Punjab. If some other high officials and Governors can be removed for the reason that they had a certain pro-Hindu ideology, (which we do not know, they had or whether it was wrong or right) then the recent act of the Governor appears to be an unpardonable act as it amounts to participating in the world largest genocide under the patronage of tobacco companies. This mindset is definitely more wrong than the worst of any kind of political ideology.  It is certainly more than a sufficient reason to remove him from his office.

Last year when Justice O. P. Verma presented the “Red and White” bravery awards (Which has been instituted in the name of a cigarette “Red and White,”) we protested and confronted the Governor at the venue itself. The Governor later regretted and publicly said that he was not aware that “Red and White” was a brand of cigarette. Justice Verma at that time trespassed the moral responsibilities he had as a Governor. Since the law dealing with the tobacco products was not enforced till then we can not say that he was a definite offender, though he certainly infringed the spirit of the constitution. But from May 1, 2004 when the law prohibiting any kind of promotion of tobacco product or its logo came into force, it became very clear that anyone participating or becoming a party to such promotion is a legal offender.

Yesterday (January 17, 2005) when the Governor of Punjab, General Rodrigues participated in the 13th “Red and White” bravery awards function as the chief guest he not only infringed the law but also proved to be a man not worthy of being the first citizen of the state. His offence is many fold greater and unpardonable.

The world knows that “Red and White” is a brand of cigarette and the award function is just a deceitful way of promoting the brand of cigarette. Because of our last year protest and a large scale campaign, one of the logo of the cigarette brand was removed from the award promotion but still the other logo “Red & White” remains there. “Red and White” is a trade-name and trademark of Godfrey Phillips Limited, registered with respect to a cigarette brand, why is this simple fact overlooked and the tobacco company accommodated at all levels?

How can the Governor and the Government be ignorant of the fact? To remind you, the Indian government has also signed and ratified the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) which specifically resolves to prohibit tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship under Article 13. Besides, section 5 of the “The Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Act, 2003” clearly says that “(3) No person, shall, under a contract or otherwise promote or agree to promote the use or consumption of— (a) cigarettes or any other tobacco product; or  (b) any trade mark or brand name of cigarettes or any other tobacco product in exchange for a sponsorship, gift, prize or scholarship given or agreed to be given by another person. People ask; what good is the law, if the Government and the Governor himself has to disobey it?

We would also like to tell you about the mechanism of one of the sub-conscience processes of getting hooked to tobacco products so that you may appreciate this letter and the offence committed by the Governor a little better. The youngsters in the age group of 11 to 25 are easily impressed by any thing considered glamorous and fashionable, they easily relate to such acts, articles and substances. Tobacco is normally promoted to appeal to the emotions of the youngsters in this age group as over 85 percentage of new consumers are from this age group. Such awards and other such ceremonies and the presence of high dignitaries like the Governor gives an official recognition and public acceptance besides adding glamour to the name of the cigarette brand. This helps the cigarette company hook more youngsters to their brand of tobacco.

General Rodrigues has preferred to participate in the function of a tobacco company promoting their brand name through surrogate means against the interest of the general public, the innocent children, the constitution of India and the law of the land. Such patronage to a tobacco company by the Governor and his tacit support to a social ill is more than a sufficient reason to remove him from his office. We expect an impartial and honest decision from your office. Please remove him and save millions of young people of this country from the clutches of death by tobacco consumption.

Thanking you
Yours cordially

Hemant Goswami
For Burning Brain Society