Akal Takht condemns killing of Bathinda boy in Delhi, asks for strict implementation of anti-tobacco act

Prior to this, a delegation of anti-drugs outfit ‘Voice of Tabacco victims’ met Giani Gurbachan Singh seeking that he should take measures to ensure ban on smoking in public places.

Condemning the killing of a Sikh boy Gurpreet Singh who objected smoking, Akal Takht jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh directed the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) in written to take up the matter with Centre and state governments and ensure strict implementation of Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA), 2003.

Akal Takht jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh(HT File)

In a press release issued here, the jathedar said, “Had the Act been implemented strictly by the governments, the Sikh boy would not have lost his life”.

Prior to this, a delegation of anti-drugs outfit ‘Voice of Tabacco victims’ met Giani Gurbachan Singh seeking that he should take measures to ensure ban on smoking in public places. They also submitted a memorandum to the jathedar in this regard.

Organisation’s member Ramandeep Singh said that smoking in the public places has claimed life of the Sikh boy, which is a shameful act.

Notably, Gurpreet, 21, was killed while his friend Maninder Singh, 22, got seriously injured after they both had an altercation with a youth for stopping him from smoking in public in Delhi. Owing to the argument, the youth rammed his car into their moving bike near AIIMS on September 17.