New Delhi: A session of the Lok Sabha turned tense on Thursday after BJP MP Anurag Thakur alleged that a member of the Trinamool Congress had been using an e-cigarette inside the House. Raising the issue during Question Hour, Thakur asked Speaker Om Birla whether such devices were permitted in Parliament. When the Speaker confirmed that they were not, Thakur claimed that a Trinamool MP had been vaping inside the chamber for several days.
His allegation prompted several BJP MPs to join the protest, briefly disrupting proceedings. Thakur urged the Speaker to order an immediate inquiry, stating that the use of e-cigarettes was prohibited nationwide and could not be allowed within the country’s highest legislative body. Birla reminded members to maintain decorum and assured them that any violation brought to his notice would be addressed. The BJP MPs are expected to file a formal written complaint.
Textiles Minister Giriraj Singh also reacted, calling the alleged incident deeply unfortunate, particularly if committed by a public representative. The controversy revived attention on India’s stringent regulations on e-cigarettes, which were outlawed under the Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes Act of 2019. The law bars the manufacture, import, sale, distribution, storage and advertisement of such devices, and even possession is considered an offence.
Despite the sweeping ban, illegal sales continue in many parts of the country. The central government has repeatedly urged states to tighten enforcement, most recently in 2023 after reports emerged of e-cigarettes being sold near schools and colleges. The law’s intent aligns with broader public-health rules, including the nationwide prohibition on smoking in public places. Parliament itself enforces strict no-smoking guidelines and previously shut down its designated smoking room, a move that sparked protests from MPs in 2015.
The latest allegation has once again drawn attention to compliance within Parliament and the challenges of enforcing tobacco-related bans across the country.
