NGT to MLA: File fresh plea against hookah bars

New Delhi: The National Green Tribunal has directed a Delhi BJP MLA to file afresh his plea alleging that hookah bars were “ruining” youth by turning them into ‘drug addicts’.

A bench headed by NGT chairperson justice Swatanter Kumar directed the counsel appearing for Manjinder Singh Sirsa to file a prop-er application with complete facts.

Mr Sirsa, who is a BJP MLA from Rajouri Garden, has sought immediate action against hookah bars in the national capital.

“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 under Section 14 of the Natio-nal Green Tribunal Act, 2010,” said the bench.

“Despite launch of a campaign in the country to contain use of tobacco and ban hookah bars, most hookah bars in Delhi are running on restaurant licenses illegally and selling products that are harmful for the youth,” the MLA stated.

Attacking the Delhi government, Sirsa had said chief minister Arvind Kejriwal claimed to be against drugs, but the ground reality was different.