Vasan urges Central, State governments to act against tobacco use - The HinduUpdated - May 31, 2026 03:25 pm IST - CHENNAIG.K. Vasan. FIle | Photo Credit: M. GovarthanOn the occasion of the World No Tobacco Day, Tamil Maanila Congress (Moopanar) leader G.K. Vasan, on Sunday (May 31, 2026), urged the Central and State governments and the general public to act against the use of tobacco by organising awareness programmes over the ill effects of the use of tobacco.Citing reports, the former Union Minister said that about 60 lakh people were losing their lives across the world annually due to usage of tobacco. Referring to a study, Mr. Vasan said that about 13 lakh people were affected in India annually due to it.Public smoking and sale of tobacco were encouraging the habit of smoking among people and those affected were from all age groups, Mr. Vasan contended. He further called upon the general public to act against the use of tobacco among their family members.Published - May 31, 2026 01:04 pm ISTSign in to unlock member-only benefits!Access 10 free stories every monthSave stories to read laterAccess to comment on every storySign-up/manage your newsletter subscriptions with a single clickGet notified by email for early access to discounts & offers on our products${ ind + 1 } ${ device }Last active - ${ la }