New Delhi: BJP MP Anurag Thakur on Thursday raised a controversy in the Lok Sabha, alleging that a Trinamool Congress (TMC) member has been using an e-cigarette inside the House over the past several days. Speaker Om Birla assured that appropriate action would be taken if a formal complaint is submitted.
The incident occurred during Question Hour when Thakur, while seeking clarification on a supplementary query, questioned whether e-cigarettes are permitted within the parliamentary premises. Upon receiving a negative response from Speaker Birla, Thakur claimed that a TMC MP had been “constantly smoking e-cigarettes in the House for the past several days.”
The allegation sparked an immediate uproar among BJP members, many of whom demanded strict action against the TMC MP involved.
In response, Speaker Birla urged members to maintain the dignity of the House and emphasized that any formal written complaint would be reviewed and acted upon as per procedure.
E-cigarettes have been banned in India for several years under the government’s regulations, making their use in public spaces, including the Parliament, illegal.
The matter has once again brought attention to the enforcement of the e-cigarette ban, especially in sensitive public and official spaces.
