The E-Cigarette Storm: Banned Vaping Alleged Inside the Lok Sabha Chamber

NEW DELHI, — The Winter Session of Parliament was rocked by a serious breach of decorum and law this week, as a top Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader raised allegations that a Member of Parliament (MP) was repeatedly using a banned e-cigarette inside the hallowed Lok Sabha chamber.

The controversy has ignited a sharp political feud, prompting the Lok Sabha Speaker to promise swift action.

The issue was brought to the floor of the House by BJP MP and former Union Minister Anurag Thakur, who specifically accused an unnamed Trinamool Congress (TMC) lawmaker of “constantly smoking e-cigarettes in the House for the past several days.“

Violation of Law and Decorum

Mr. Thakur’s complaint is two-fold, touching upon both parliamentary rules and national law.

1. Breach of Parliament Rules: Smoking or the use of any tobacco-related products is strictly prohibited inside the Parliament premises, especially within the Lok Sabha chamber itself, to maintain the dignity and decorum of the institution.

2. Violation of National Law: The most critical aspect of the allegation is the use of an Electronic Cigarette (vaping device). India completely banned the production, manufacture, import, export, transport, sale, distribution, storage, and advertisement of all Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS) under The Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes Act (PECA), 2019.

Raising the matter, Thakur questioned the Chair, asking whether a device that is banned across the entire country was permitted within the Parliament.

The incident led to a brief uproar, with members from the Treasury benches demanding immediate punitive action.

Speaker Promises Inquiry

Responding to the gravity of the allegations, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla assured the House that no member has been granted permission to use any form of tobacco or e-cigarette inside the premises.

“If I get any such information, I will certainly take action,” Speaker Birla said, urging Mr. Thakur to lodge a formal, written complaint to enable an official inquiry.

Mr. Thakur subsequently lodged a written complaint requesting an investigation by an appropriate House Committee, emphasizing that such conduct lowers the dignity of the Parliament and sends a “dangerous message to the youth.“

The Secondary Controversy: Saugata Roy’s Defence

The controversy was amplified by a separate, but related, incident involving senior TMC MP Saugata Roy.

Mr. Roy was caught on camera smoking a traditional cigarette just outside the Makar Dwar area of the Parliament complex.

He was reportedly confronted by Union Ministers Giriraj Singh and Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, who raised concerns over the public health message and the dignity of the Parliament complex.

Defending his action, Mr. Roy insisted that smoking is only barred inside the House building, not in the open space of the complex.

The exchange, however, underscored the core issue: the perceived disregard by lawmakers for the rules they themselves legislate, at a time when India is battling one of the world’s most severe tobacco-related health crises.

The Wider Implication

The incident transcends mere political skirmish.

It places a harsh spotlight on the accountability of elected representatives. The PECA Act of 2019 was passed to protect the public, particularly youth, from the health risks and gateway effects of new-age nicotine products.

A lawmaker allegedly flouting this very law inside the nation’s highest legislative body raises serious questions about the respect for public health mandates and legislative sanctity.

The outcome of the Speaker’s promised inquiry will now be keenly watched as a test of Parliament’s commitment to upholding its own rules and the nation’s laws.

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