Bengaluru, Aug. 14 -- The Karnataka government has decided to withdraw its yearlong ban on gutka and tobacco-containing pan masala, just two days after the order took effect, following protests from legislators across party lines who warned that it could hurt arecanut growers.

Chief minister D.K. Shivakumar directed officials to withdraw the order after a meeting with Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Congress legislators led by BJP MLA Araga Jnanendra and Congress MLA D.G. Shanthana Gowda, who raised concerns that the prohibition could hurt the market for arecanut and cause losses to growers.

"The issue also came up during Thursday's Cabinet meeting. Shivakumar was reportedly displeased that the Food Safety Commissioner's order was issu...