Kick the butt: Ramadoss to Buddha

Amid reports of West Bengal losing millions of dollars in international aid due to its Chief Minister's smoking habit, Union Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss on Tuesday "issued fresh advice to him to kick the butt".

Amid reports of West Bengal losing millions of dollars in international aid due to its Chief Minister's smoking habit, Union Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss on Tuesday "issued fresh advice to him to kick the butt".

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"I have already requested him (Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharya) to quit smoking and I do so again," Ramdoss told reporters here.

He said the health ministry has sent letters to all the state governments asking them to enforce the smoke-free work places ban from October two.

"The West Bengal Chief Minister has done a marvellous job as far as getting investments to the state is concerned and has worked hard to make the state better in all respects," he said.

West Bengal has the highest number of smokers 71 per cent of men smokes cigarette in the state.

According to reports, the CM's smoking habits have made the state lose out to millions of dollars in international aid.

Within the last six months, the Bloomberg Initiative To Reduce Tobacco Use had rejected application for grant to West Bengal many times.