By Bisheshwar Mishra / Andalib Akhter
Rajya Sabha today got into a serious and interesting debate over how market is flooded with claims of “genuine” products endorsed by celebrities. The debate dragged Chairman Venkaiah Naidu to share his own experience of a medicinal product the advertisement of which claimed to reduce weight in 28 days.
The zero hour debate was provoked by Samajwadi Party MP Naresh Aggarwal who said, “the market today is flooded with advertisements claiming `asli-nakli’ (genuine-fake) products..There is a Baba. I will not name him. He claims to provide `shuddh (pure) cow ghee, tooth paste, etc..” Yet the markets were flooded with adulterated vegetables and other products. Ëven fish is sold after polishing it with some solution to make it look fresh. Is there no way to check this?” he asked. He also said that many celebrities like Salman Khan endorsed health products which are claimed genuine.
At this point Chairman Venkaiah Naidu interjected. He referred to an advertisement through which a company claimed to reduce weight in 28 day. He said after making payment of Rs 2,230 to the company as demanded, more money was sought for delivering the “original” medicine to reduce weight. “You know my mentality. I did not leave the matter there,” the chairman said, adding that he asked his staff to raise the matter with the concerned ministry. The minister concerned, he said acted promptly and an inquiry was carried out. Naidu said it was found that the advertisement originated from the United States. He said that it should be examined how to check such advertisements.
Seeking permission to speak the Consumer Affairs Minister Ram Vilas Paswan who was sitting in the House said that his ministry had worked hard to bring a law to prevent such advertisements to protect the consumers. He requested the members not to delay in passing the proposed consumer protection bill.
Paswan said the current consumer protection law is 31 years old and the NDA government has drafted a new bill. The bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha in 2015 and referred to the Standing Committee. He said the Standing Committee gave “good suggestions”and the Union Cabinet approved the new bill. He urged the MPs not to send the bill again to the Standing Committee so that it could be passed at the earliest.
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