The comments are in response to your article only. Your position is clear only now after a lot of confusion among readers. Your comments like smoking being a freedom of choice, and the ban being a “shallow” one, only distracted and drove the focus away from the intended point of the article which is that government is not doing enough to tame terrorism. It was the article only which brought the coffee v/s smoking debate in question.

Still I am glad that this article was only a failure of communication and not a failure of logic as I earlier thought. I am a happy reader again.

“More than 53% of indian budget is spent on ‘DEFENSE” – Shallow again?
Do you know this 53% is for defence from outside – i.e. equipments/training etc..and doesn’t cover threats from inside?

Why is govt. taking away the focus from main qns to these things that do not matter so much?

As one of the commentors said – pluggd.in readers/techies are supposedly the guys who are knowledge workers – and if they aren’t questioning govt’s actions (actually most of u seem to be fine with terrorism) – who else will?

I feel sick to see the # of deaths caused by smoking vs. terrorism – I mean is that a parameter?
If yes, let terrorism spread it’s wings..let it touch everybody’s lives and then we will do something about it?

All I am talking about is PRIORITIES – right now, terrorism is not coming from outside, but Indians are being used to mastermind/plant bombs (earlier this was happening only in Kasmir, but now it’s happening in other parts of the country) – Isn’t THIS SCARY?

Why this coffee vs. smoking debate? There are far more important things for govt. to look at – even you and me to be worry about.

Coming back to smoking ban:
Think why govt. didn’t ban beedi? Provide me the answer please, since beedi is a grand killer and constitutes ~85% of nicotine sales in India.

Think.

-Ashish

Yea, you have suggested many problems which doesnt not have solutions yet. Terrorism, Pollution, Cholestrol(buddy, thats a lifestyle prob which is a matter of individual choice). But that doesnt mean that Govt. should put the entire effort in countering terrorism only and let rest of the problems goto hell.
More than 53% of indian budget is spent on ‘DEFENSE’. Yea, its a pain to see we still struggle even with that. But as a citizen, I would rather see that money being spent on other major issues like Health, Water, Sanitation and Education.

Terrorism is a threat not a real killer when it comes to numbers.

i dont think anybdy is saying dont ban smoking..i guess its a matter of priorities.
and if govt. uses oct 2nd to declare ban on smoking, what happens to other imp issues (that ppl are discussing here..)? – Is govt. waiting for another bomb blast to again make same senseless statements?

You guys are supposed to be knowledge workers..the padha likha crowd who is ‘supposed to’ run the country – sad that none of you are even questioning wht govt. is doing (or not doing).

I guess, ashish righly said – “Because we are still a spectator in the entire game – and if we stay too long, we will be ’smoked out’.”

Argue with ppl whom you can point ur finger to – but accept wht big boss says!

great show guys!

“I would like to see a ban on beedi too” – I am sure many of you won’t be aware of this until ashish talked about it.

Isn’t that shallow?

Incidentally, this is the same line of reasoning of people who are opposing India’s moon mission. Why spend so much money going into space when there are dying farmers in Andhra? For curiosity’s sake, Ashish, what’s your stance on India’s moon mission?

It is not a shallow response or a blind acceptance of whatever the government throws at us. I have strong opposition to the way things are being handled on terrorism, education, law, and environment. But lets not lose perspective here.

@Prashant: I too am a libertarian. I do not think personal habits are government’s business. But smoking in a public place is not just you exercising your freedom. It affects people around you who cannot “opt-out”. That is how it is different than banning butter, oil, and junk-food.

And yes, I would like to see a ban on beedi too.

cheers
nilesh

While I agree that we should respect our peers by not forcing them to be a passive smokers .But at the same time putting a blanket ban and portraying smokers as villain doesn’t solve anything . I am confident this will not be enforced with as much strictness as we are aticipating .

reason ?? Tobbaco cartel is one of the biggest Tax Payer . a little arm twisting around election time and things will be ok !

Smokers of World , Relax !!

Aren’t these important? Have you been to a govt. hospital and saw the state of affairs there?

My only worrry here is ppl have stopped questioning biggies and will accept anything and everything taht’s thrown to them.

I am quite disappointed to see shallow comments here – why are ppl not questioning these things?

And hey, why not ban beedi – do you know that beedi and chewing tobacco = 85% of the harmful ‘nicotine’ sales? And the current law doesn’t cover that.

And guys, can anybody tell me what happened to other blasts that occurred last year? who is questioning govt’s actions?

The grounds for smoking ban are not as untenable as you make it out to be. It is not about protecting the smokers but the right of non-smokers to a clean and smoke free environment. You have freedom of choice only as long as it does not hurt others freedom to live a healthy life. I am surprised you could not see through the supreme court’s reasoning.

I agree the govt. is not doing enough to counter terrorism but that cannot be a ground to oppose what they ARE doing right.

Really disappointed with this post.

Yes the two are handled by different ministries (who run on the common fund, i.e the tax we pay).

There are far more imp. issues than this – if health ministry is so concerned abt citizen’s health, why is the sex ratio declining?
What’s happening to malnutritioned children in several parts of the country?
And what about the fucking pollution that’s killing us? – Isn’t that a far more controllable thing?

1) Passive smoking vs passive coffee drinking:)
2) Having a smoke vs drinking coffee with kids at home.
3) An expecting mother smoking vs having coffee.

Smokers are also easy to catch in the act. Terrorists are not. There is going to be no Batla House shoot-out with smokers. Interesting line of thought though:-)

Smoking is a matter of public health. Unlike terrorism, it is not a matter of public security.

And that has created a vicious circle (politics is full of more and more incompetents) that might doom India some day…