A political storm erupted in Parliament on Wednesday after a senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader publicly accused a Trinamool Congress (TMC) Member of Parliament of violating House rules by allegedly using an e-cigarette inside the Lok Sabha chamber.
The Allegation and the Viral Video
BJP's IT cell head and leader, Amit Malviya, took to social media platform X to share a 35-second video clip. The video purportedly shows TMC MP and former Indian cricketer, Kirti Azad, making a gesture that Malviya claimed was vaping. In the post, Malviya directly named Azad as the lawmaker whom BJP MP Anurag Thakur had referred to in a complaint last week about an unidentified MP vaping in the House.
The video shows Azad sitting in the Lok Sabha, bringing his cupped right hand towards his mouth and holding it there for a few seconds. However, the footage does not clearly show a cigarette, an e-cigarette, or any visible smoke. The authenticity of the video could not be independently verified by news outlets.
Escalation of a Previous Complaint
This development comes days after BJP MP and former Union Minister, Anurag Thakur, lodged a formal complaint with Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla. Thakur had raised the issue of a suspected violation of Parliamentary rules and statutory laws by an MP using an e-cigarette inside the Chamber. While Thakur did not name any individual at the time, his complaint briefly disrupted proceedings during the Question Hour last week.
In his written post accompanying the video, Amit Malviya launched a sharp attack. "The Trinamool MP accused by BJP MP Anurag Thakur of vaping inside Parliament is none other than Kirti Azad," Malviya stated. He added, "For people like him, rules and laws clearly hold no meaning. Just imagine the audacity, hiding an e-cigarette in his palm while in the House."
Malviya further demanded clarification from TMC supremo and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee regarding her party MP's conduct.
Parliamentary Protocol and Speaker's Response
Following Anurag Thakur's initial complaint, Speaker Om Birla had addressed the House, urging all members to maintain its decorum. He had requested Thakur to submit a written complaint, assuring that appropriate action would be taken upon receiving formal information. "If I get any such information, I will certainly take action," Speaker Birla had said, emphasizing the seriousness of the allegation.
The controversy hinges on the use of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) within Parliament premises. An e-cigarette is a battery-powered device that heats a liquid to create an inhalable aerosol. While smoking may not be illegal everywhere, its use inside the Parliament is strictly prohibited and considered a breach of parliamentary etiquette and rules.
This incident has sparked a fresh political debate, with the BJP pressing for accountability and the Trinamool Congress yet to issue an official statement in response to the specific allegations against Kirti Azad. The matter underscores the ongoing tensions between the ruling party and the opposition in the current Parliament session.
