Mangalore : Former BJP CM from Sullia DV Sadananda Gowda threatened to hold a protest rally, on January2, 2014, against proposed ban on arecanut as cash crop, by blaming it as poisonous to the health of citizens in India.

He made the statement in BJP office in city on Dec.21 Saturday, against the wrong advise of Union health ministry to the cetral govt. to ban areca cultivation.

When BJP was in power it helped areca growers in every way although it approved a ban on Gutkha but a summary ban on the west coast cash crop that brings money and employment to lakhs of people in Kerala and Karnataka, was unthinkable as the areca juice is medicinal in its quality and bring flavor to the people who drink it and keep their mouth fresh from bad odours.

The congress, Gowda argued, had not bothered about the common people ruined by a summary ban on a crop that brought flowers for worship in temples and gifts during marriages and offerings in holy functions while bringing cash in exports markets. Thousands of workers in arecanut belt face unemployment and starvation if arecanut is banned in estates.

Right now arecanut crops on a large scale and palm trees are affected by deceases from insects and the farmers are tormented by fear of heavy losses due to failure of crops.

A panel of Advocates formed by BJP in power to argue for the welfare of arecanut farmers has been scrapped by congress when it came to power. The duty of the congress is to form a new panel of Advocates to protect arecanuts crops, when they argue for farmers in a court of law. Gowda urged the congress in power to waste no time on forming such a legal panel to argue for arecanut, its farmers in thousands, and workers in lakhs who are dependent on harmless areca for their living in dignity.