Mangaluru : The South Kanara-Udupi District Beedi Contractors’ Union, affiliated Timothy Hind Mazdoor Sanjay, on Wednesday, urged the Prime Minister not to kill the Beedi industry through harsh legislation.

Union Working President Mahammed Rafi told presspersons here at Mangaluru that over 2 crore workers across the country would get affected if the proposed curbs are enforced on the industry. More than 3 lakh workers are in Udupi and Dakshina Kannada, he said.

Imposition of rules, such as printing ‘danger’ symbol on 85 per cent area of Beedi pack, dates of manufacturing and expiry etc., would adversely affect the industry. Sustained efforts are being made since UPA government to kill the industry, he alleged.

HMS State President M. Sureshchandra Shetty and others were present.