Bhiku Bhai Patel, the President of the Gujarat Tobacco Merchants Association, says that even with only 40 percent pictorial warning on the packs, the cigarette consumption never went down as there is no data available to support the government's claim.
"The tobacco farmers and retailers of Gujarat are facing an unprecedented threat because of the policy shock of 85 per cent warnings on beedis and chewing tobacco, which has led to overnight closure of the tobacco industry in India," said GTMA President Bhikhu Bhai Patel.