A heated exchange unfolded in the Lok Sabha on Thursday as BJP MP Anurag Thakur accused a Trinamool Congress lawmaker of smoking e-cigarettes inside the House, despite a nationwide ban.
During Question Hour, Thakur asked Speaker Om Birla whether the use of e-cigarettes was permitted in Parliament. When Birla replied in the negative, Thakur highlighted that a Trinamool MP had been “smoking e-cigarettes in the House for several days,” urging immediate investigation. The accusation led other BJP MPs to join in, resulting in a brief uproar.
Speaker Birla reminded members to maintain parliamentary decorum and assured action, stating, “We must adhere to parliamentary traditions and rules. If such matters come to my attention, I will act.” Thakur and other BJP MPs are expected to submit a formal complaint in writing.
Textiles Minister Giriraj Singh also expressed concern, calling the use of e-cigarettes by an MP “unfortunate.” E-cigarettes and vapes, battery-operated devices that heat liquid containing nicotine and flavorings into an inhalable aerosol, have been completely banned in India under the Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes Act, 2019. The law makes manufacturing, import, sale, distribution, storage, advertisement, and even possession illegal.
Despite the ban, enforcement challenges remain, and illegal sales continue in some areas, including near educational institutions. Smoking in public places, including Parliament, is strictly prohibited, and a dedicated smoking room was closed in 2015, causing widespread objections from MPs across party lines.
The incident adds another layer of tension in Parliament, where decorum and adherence to rules are frequently tested amid political rivalries.
