Tezpur (Assam), April 3 (IANS): BJP MP Ram Prasad Sarmah said on Friday that there was no proof that smoking tobacco led to cancer.
The MP from Tezpur told the media here: "There is no proof that smoking tobacco leads to cancer. There has to be proof that smoking cigarette leads to cancer.
"One must prove that smoking is medically or chemically harmful to one's health," he added.
The Bharatiya Janata Party leader referred to two of his acquaintances who he said used to smoke 60 cigarette every day and also consumed liquor, but enjoyed a healthy and long life.
"One of them is still surviving," he said.
Earlier, BJP MP Dilip Gandhi, who heads a parliamentary panel on subordinate legislation, sparked a huge row after saying that there was no Indian study to confirm that use of tobacco led to cancer.