Lok Sabha uproar over e-cigarettes: Anurag Thakur accuses TMC MP of smoking in the House, Speaker orders action
New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): An awkward situation arose in the Lok Sabha on Thursday during the winter session of Parliament when senior Bharatiya Janata Party MP and former Union Minister Anurag Thakur raised a serious issue regarding the dignity of the House. Without naming anyone, Anurag Thakur accused a Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP of smoking e-cigarettes (vape) inside the Lok Sabha. He said in the House that opposition members are ignoring the rules and e-cigarettes are being used inside the House, which is worrying.
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla also took a firm stance on the issue raised by Anurag Thakur. The Speaker clarified that there is no place for such behavior within Parliament, nor is there any tradition or rule that allows any MP to smoke e-cigarettes in the House. He warned members that if the matter is formally brought to his attention and the allegations are found to be true, appropriate and strict action will be taken against the MP concerned.
Meanwhile, the Trinamool Congress has reacted sharply to the BJP MP's allegations. TMC MP Dola Sen countered Anurag Thakur's accusations, saying that rules and regulations already exist to maintain discipline in Parliament, and those responsible for overseeing them will oversee them. She sarcastically remarked that Anurag Thakur is not a "guru" that we should accept his every word. This issue sparked heated exchanges between the ruling party and the opposition.
While the issue of e-cigarettes remained heated inside the Parliament House, the political war of words continued outside as well. Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, targeted Union Home Minister Amit Shah's speech yesterday. Rahul Gandhi said that Amit Shah appeared very nervous during the speech and mental pressure was clearly visible, even his hands were shaking. Rahul alleged that the Home Minister used foul language and did not provide any concrete answer or evidence to the questions raised by the opposition. The Congress leader said that he had openly challenged Shah to come to the House and discuss his press conference, but he received no response.