The Trinamool Congress waded into controversy on Thursday after BJP leaders flagged an Opposition MP for smoking e-cigarettes outside the Parliament. The issue was raised during Question Hour in the Lok Sabha — with Anurag Thakur alleging that a TMC lawmaker had been “smoking constantly in the House”. The allegations have prompted a sharp rebuttal from the Opposition party with TMC MP Saugata Roy insisting that it was permitted within the premises.
“We can smoke e-cigarette (within the premises of the House). We cannot smoke inside the building, but can outside…” Roy told reporters.
‘TMC MP has set new record of lowering dignity of Parliament’
BJP member Anurag Thakur on Thursday accused an unnamed TMC MP of smoking an e-cigarette in the Lok Sabha — with Speaker Om Birla assuring action while several BJP leaders clamoured for punishment against the Opposition leader. During Question Hour, while asking a supplementary, Thakur wondered whether e-cigarettes are allowed in the House. When Birla replied in the negative, the BJP MP said a TMC member has been “constantly smoking e-cigarettes in the House for the past several days”.
“There is a complete ban on e-cigarettes across the country since 2019. The use of any such items is completely banned in the Parliament premises. So, getting an e-cigarette in Parliament is against the law. But a TMC MP violated all these laws today. BJP MP Anurag Thakur informed the Speaker about this incident, and the Speaker has assured him of an investigation into this matter,” BJP National Spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla said in a press conference.
Are e-cigarettes banned in India?
The Indian government had banned all electronic nicotine delivery systems (including devices and nicotine liquids) in 2019.