New Delhi: Uttar Pradesh (UP) Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday banned consumption of paan masala (betel-nut mix) and chewing tobacco (gutkha) in all government offices in the state.
Adityanath passed the order after spotting paan stains on the walls during an unscheduled visit to the old CM office, known as the Annexe Building, in state capital Lucknow.
According to sources in the local administration, “the CM passed an order on Tuesday morning against the use of paan masala and tobacco in government buildings and offices.”
Later in the day, deputy CM Keshav Prasad Maurya confirmed the order to the media.
“Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath inspected the Annexe Building and directed officials to maintain cleanliness of both the Annexe and the state so that change is visible. He asked them not to consume paan masala and gutkha,” Maurya said.
Adityanath also administered a cleanliness pledge to officers and distributed copies of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) manifesto for required reading.
In his speech in Parliament on Monday, the CM had made it clear that a lot was going to change in the state.
“Aap dekhte rahiye. Wahan par bahut kuch band hone jaa raha hai (You wait and watch. A lot is going to stop there),” he said.
