BJP MP Anurag Thakur alleges TMC MP of smoking e-cigarettes in Lok Sabha for several days, speaker assures action

As the winter session of the parliament continues to witness heated debates, and unique accusation surfaced in Lok Sabha on Thursday. During the question answer session in the morning, BJP MP Anurag Thakur alleged that a Trinamool Congress MP has been smoking e‑cigarettes in the house.

Anurag Thakur had asked a question to the government wanting to know how much fund have been allotted to Himachal Pradesh to compensate for the heavy loss caused by recent massive floods and landslides. After completing the question, he said that he wants to ask a question on the system in the house.

However, speaker Om Birla said that members can’t question the speaker in a light-hearted note, after which Thakur said that he wants to make a request for the information of the house. Then he said, “e‑cigarettes are banned in the country, but have allowed it in the house?”, to which Om Birla responded that he has not allowed any member to use e‑cigarettes in the house.

After that Anurag Thakur added, “A TMC MP has been smoking. TMC MP is regularly smoking e‑cigarettes for days inside the Lok Sabha.” When the speaker reiterated that no such permission has been given, the MP urged him to get the matter checked. Thakur didn’t name the Lok Sabha MP.

The speaker urged the members to follow the parliamentary traditions and rules, and added that if any such matter is brought before him, he will take appropriate action.

This was followed by demands for action and investigation against the TMC MP from several MPs. While it is not known which TMC MP is accused of smoking in the house, one MP could be heard saying ‘Mahila MP’ (woman MP). When the noises continued, the speaker asked them to submit a written complaint, assuring action. After that the question-answer session continued normally.

Written by OpIndia Staff
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