NEW DELHI, MAY 1 : Central Board for Film Certification chairperson Sharmila Tagore on Thursday said Health Minister A Ramadoss should do something about the growing menace of fake medicines in the country instead of showing concern over film actors being shown consuming liquor on screen.

Reacting to his remarks on the matter, she said, “I would humbly like to suggest that there are bigger health issues like fake medicines that are easily available in Indian market and are leading to life threatening diseases. The turnover of this market is huge and the minister should tackle this issue”.

Tagore said she was not against the minister’s statement on alcohol, but added that before making any observation about the film sector, “the minister should take into consideration the views of people involved in the film making business”. Ramadoss had earlier this week raised concern on as to how actors on screen are shown consuming liquor. Terming it as “unfortunate”, he had said earlier only villainous characters were shown consuming liquor, but now even heroes are shown consuming it.

Such things have a negative effect on the youth and a national policy on alcohol would soon be framed, he added. Ramadoss had in the past also criticised the film industry for promoting smoking by showing actors openly indulging in it on screen.