Thiruvananthapuram, June 23 (IANS) Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy Thursday wrote to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh urging a total ban on all tobacco products.

 
 “The use of cigarettes and beedis and other forms of tobacco have been identified as the main cause of cancer and also it is high time that the young student generation be weaned away from using this harmful product and the only way to save the young minds is through a total ban on all tobacco products,” wrote Chandy.
 
 He also noted that the World Health Organisation (WHO) has asked for a total ban on all forms of advertisements of tobacco products.
 
 “Passive smoking has also become a problem these days even as there is a ban on smoking in public places. Tobacco products have become the biggest social evil, especially for the younger generation, and hence the need of the hour is a total ban on all forms of tobacco products,” said Chandy.