Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Anurag Thakur has alleged that an MP of Trinamool Congress (TMC) has been smoking e-cigarette in the Lok Sabha for some days now and that an action should taken against the leader. The house erupted in chaos as the BJP MP made the accusation, but he did not name the MP.

He was speaking during a discussion on the “timber mafia” in Himachal Pradesh and urged Speaker Om Birla to take cognisance of what he described as a clear violation of rules.

“I would like to ask you a question,” Thakur said, prompting the Speaker to interrupt him, saying, “You can’t ask me a question, you can insist.” The MP said alleged that a TMC member has been “constantly smoking e-cigarettes in the House for the past several days”.

“I would like to urge you, for the knowledge of the House, to clarify whether the e-cigarette, which is banned in the entire country, is allowed in the House premises?” Thakur continued.

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Chaos in Lok Sabha

A ruckus erupted in the house following Thakur’s remarks, and the Speaker said he will take action if a written complaint is lodged. Birla responded, “No member is allowed to carry any kind of cigarette in the House.”

Following this, Thakur looked at the opposition benches and said, “TMC MP is smoking. The TMC MP has been smoking it for days now. Is smoking cigarettes allowed in the House now? Sir, please get this issue checked.” Many MPs of the treasury benches asked for a thorough check of the members for e-cigarette.

“How can someone smoke a cigarette while sitting in the House?” many shouted, calling the situation “unacceptable”, reported IANS.

As Thakur continued, TMC MPs retorted leading to a brief moment of huge chaotic atmosphere in the lower house. “If such an incident is brought to my notice with clarity, appropriate action will follow,” Speaker Om Birla said.

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What does the rule say on E-cigarettes?

E-cigarettes are banned across the country since 2019. The Centre has prohibited the production, import, distribution and sale of electronic cigarettes.

The law was made in Parliament, after both houses, in December 2019, passed the Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes (Production, Manufacture, Import, Export, Transport, Sale, Distribution, Storage and Advertisement) Bill, 2019.