Did any MP smoke e-cigarette in Lok Sabha? BJP’s shocking allegation has created an uproar in the House. E-cigarettes are completely banned in India, yet the mystery of vaping by an MP has now turned into the biggest investigation in Parliament.
New Delhi. Everyone knows that e-cigarettes are banned in India. But what if these banned vaping devices are found being used inside Parliament, the country’s largest law making place? The same sensational allegation was made by BJP MP Anurag Thakur in the Lok Sabha, which created silence in the entire House for a moment and then suddenly an uproar. Anurag Thakur claimed that “a Trinamool Congress MP has been smoking e-cigarette inside the Lok Sabha for several days”. On hearing this, Speaker Om Birla clearly said that e-cigarettes are not allowed in the House. This entire controversy has once again sparked a debate as to how and to what extent vaping has spread in India despite the e-cigarette ban. Has Parliament also remained untouched by this problem?
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Were e-cigarettes really smoked inside Parliament? BJP’s big allegation
As soon as Anurag Thakur made this allegation in the Lok Sabha, there was a stir. He said that a TMC MP has been smoking e-cigarette for several days continuously, even though it is banned in the entire country.
- Thakur asked the Speaker, “Are e-cigarettes allowed in the House?”
- The speaker immediately said “No, not at all.”
After this, Thakur claimed that a TMC MP had been vaping while sitting on his seat for several days continuously. As soon as this statement came, BJP MPs stood up and an uproar started. Light-hearted controversies often happen in Parliament, but the allegation of vaping in the Parliament premises was heard for the first time, due to which the issue immediately grabbed the headlines.
If e-cigarette is banned, then how did it reach Parliament?
E-cigarettes are completely illegal in India. According to the law made in 2019:
- Making e-cigarettes illegal
- illegal to sell
- illegal to possess
- illegal to advertise
- illegal to import
Even mere possession is a legal offence. The Speaker has assured an investigation to know the truth of this issue.
Is vaping allowed in Parliament? What do the rules say?
Amidst the uproar, Speaker Om Birla said, “Everyone should follow the traditions and rules of Parliament. If any such incident comes to my notice, action will definitely be taken.” The rules of Parliament are very clear that smoking is strictly prohibited. Even the smoking room in the Parliament complex was closed in 2015. In such a situation, there is no question of allowing devices like e-cigarettes.
Is the e-cigarette ban really being implemented in India?
Although the law is strict, the situation on the ground is different. India is a big country, and such restrictions become lax in many places. Vaping devices are sold secretly in many places. Complaints about sales are also received near schools and colleges. In 2023, the Center wrote a letter to the states demanding strict action. This shows that even though laws are in place, the black market for vaping is still operating.
Is this just a political dispute, or is there something bigger hidden in Parliament?
This dispute can also become just an issue of BJP vs TMC. But if the allegations are proved true, then it will become a big question for the country: When e-cigarettes are banned in the country, then who was smoking it inside the Parliament and how?