New Delhi, March 19: Sharad Pawar, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief recently opened up about one of his biggest regrets in life!! Pawar, who underwent a surgery after being diagnosed with oral cancer in 2004, said his biggest regret in life was getting addicted to tobacco. Pawar stated that he wished if someone had warned him against using tobacco 40 years ago.

While speaking at the launch of an Indian Dental AssociationтАЩs (IDA) event in Mumbai, Pawar said that he regretted having used tobacco and betel nut. The event was held to commemorate the World Oral Health Day. It must be noted that the Indian Dental Association's (IDA) mission to eradicate oral cancer by 2022.

The former Maharashtra Chief Minister said that he had to undergo a surgery and complete removal of teeth. Describing his ordeal, Pawar said he couldnтАЩt open his mouth and faced difficulty in swallowing and speaking. The NCP Chief added saying that he was pained that lakhs of Indians continued to fall prey to the scourge and promised to raise the issue in Parliament.

The former Union Agriculture Minister also pledged support to the Indian Dental AssociationтАЩs cause of eradicating oral cancer and curbing the menace of tobacco usage. The NCP chief was speaking at the launch of the Indian Dental AssociationтАЩs mission to eradicate oral cancer by 2022. The event was held to commemorate the World Oral Health Day which is observed on March 20.

As per details by Global Adult Tobacco Survey for 2016-17, 19 per cent of men, two per cent of women, and 10.7 per cent of all adultsтАЩ smoke tobacco. According to a report by TOI, the survey adds that 29.6 per cent of men, 12.8 per cent of women and 21.4 per cent of all adults consume smokeless forms of the same.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Mar 19, 2018 05:57 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).