Green panel tells Sirsa to file fresh application on hookah bars

SAD-BJP MLA had alleged that hookah bars were ‘ruining’ youth by turning them into ‘drug addicts’

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed Shiromani Akali Dal-Bharatiya Janata Party (SAD-BJP) MLA Manjinder Singh Sirsa to file a proper application complete with facts on his plea alleging that hookah bars were “ruining” the youth by turning them into “drug addicts”.

A Bench headed by NGT chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar said on Monday, “The counsel appearing for the applicant wishes to withdraw this application with liberty to file proper application after giving complete facts and analysis report, if any, and by bringing the application within the scope and ambit of Section 14 of the National Green Tribunal Act, 2010.”

Previously, in a letter written to the Tribunal, Mr. Sirsa had said that it was surprising that hookah bars were running in the Capital despite a campaign being launched throughout the country to contain the use of tobacco.

He added that hookah contains harmful chemicals like carbon monoxide and cancer-causing chemicals.

Lashing out at AAP

The leader had also trained his guns on the Aam Aadmi Party government for failing to ban hookah bars in the Capital.