New Delhi, December 11 (IANS). There was uproar in the Lok Sabha on Thursday after BJP MP Anurag Thakur accused a TMC MP of smoking e-cigarette. This incident happened during the ongoing discussion on ‘Timber Mafia’ in Himachal Pradesh.
Anurag Thakur said that use of e-cigarette in the Lok Sabha premises is a clear violation of the rules. He urged Speaker Om Birla to take action in this matter. However, he did not directly name the MP.
Anurag Thakur said, “I want to ask you a question.” On this, Speaker Om Birla stopped him and said, “You cannot ask me questions, you can make requests.”
BJP MP Anurag Thakur said, “I request you to clarify for the information of the House whether e-cigarettes, which are banned across the country, can be used in the Lok Sabha complex?”
Speaker Om Birla immediately responded, “No one is allowed to bring or smoke any kind of cigarette in the House.”
After this, Thakur, pointing towards the opposition, said, “TMC MPs are smoking cigarettes. These MPs have been doing this for many days. Is it now acceptable to smoke cigarettes in the Lok Sabha? Please get this matter investigated.”
Immediately after this allegation there was a stir in the House. Members of the ruling party said, “How can a member sit in the House and smoke a cigarette? This is absolutely unacceptable.”
TMC MPs reacted sharply to Thakur’s statement, while several BJP MPs supported the allegations from their seats and said that TMC members were violating the rules.
The Speaker again clarified that no MP is allowed to smoke cigarettes in the House and said, “If such an incident clearly comes to my notice, appropriate action will be taken.”
E-cigarettes are banned across the country since 2019. The central government has banned the production, import, sale, distribution and advertisement of electronic cigarettes. In December 2019, both houses of Parliament passed the Electronic Cigarettes (Production, Manufacture, Import, Export, Transport, Sale, Distribution, Storage and Advertisement) Bill and converted it into law.
–IANS
VKU/VC