New Delhi: Was Trinamool Congress MP Kirti Azad ‘vaping’ in Parliament, even as proceedings were on?
Days after BJP MP Anurag Thakur registered a formal complaint with Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla that a Trinamool Congress lawmaker was smoking in the House during proceedings, the party on Wednesday released a purported video showing Azad allegedly vaping, as reported by India Today.
Days of suspense followed Thakur’s complaint, following which BJP IT cell chief Amit Malviya finally revealed the identity of the TMC MP in the video and said: “The TMC MP accused by BJP MP Anurag Thakur of vaping inside Parliament is none other than Kirti Azad. 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!”
“Smoking may not be illegal, but using it in Parliament is entirely unacceptable. Mamata Banerjee must clarify on her MP’s misconduct,” he added.
Thakur had raised the issue in the Lok Sabha last week, naming the party but not the MP, and demanded strict action against the TMC lawmaker.
“A Member of Parliament belonging to the All India Trinamool Congress was seen openly using an electronic cigarette while seated in the House during the sittings,” the Hamirpur MP had said.
The act was “clearly visible” to other members and added that the “open use” of a banned substance inside the sanctum sanctorum of Indian democracy was not only a violation of parliamentary discipline but also a cognisable offence, Thakur had pointed out.
He claimed that it sets an “extremely poor precedent”, and mentioned in his complaint: “Therefore, earnestly request you to take immediate cognisance of this serious breach of rules and law; direct an inquiry into the incident through the appropriate committee or mechanism of the House.”
Vaping refers to the consumption of e-cigarettes. The sale, purchase, distribution and consumption of e-cigarettes are banned in India. This is an offence punishable with a fine and also imprisonment.
