A heated exchange disrupted proceedings in the Lok Sabha on December 11, 2025, during the ongoing Winter Session when BJP MP Anurag Thakur accused an unnamed Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP of repeatedly smoking banned e-cigarettes inside the House premises, prompting demands for immediate action and a sharp rebuttal from the opposition. Thakur, without specifying the individual, raised the issue during Question Hour, questioning Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on whether such devices—prohibited nationwide since the 2019 Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes Act—are permitted in Parliament. "E-cigarettes are banned across the country. Have you allowed it in the House? A TMC MP has been smoking e-cigarettes for days inside the Lok Sabha," Thakur stated, pointing toward the opposition benches amid growing uproar from BJP members who echoed calls for intervention. The accusation, captured on video and swiftly viral on social media, highlighted simmering tensions between the ruling BJP and TMC, escalating just a day after a fiery clash between Home Minister Amit Shah and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi over electoral reforms.

Speaker Om Birla firmly clarified that no form of smoking, including e-cigarettes, is allowed inside the House, reprimanding Thakur for attempting to pose a direct question to the Chair—a breach of parliamentary protocol. "No member is allowed to carry any kind of cigarette in the House," Birla asserted, urging Thakur to maintain decorum before assuring that appropriate action would follow if a formal written complaint is submitted with evidence. The brief chaos saw TMC MPs retort sharply, with several BJP voices amplifying the claim, but Birla appealed for the dignity of the House to prevail. The incident underscores broader concerns over enforcement of the 2019 ban, which prohibits the production, sale, import, and use of e-cigarettes to curb youth vaping and health risks like nicotine addiction and lung damage, though possession remains a grey area punishable by fines up to Rs 1 lakh.

In response, TMC MP Saugata Roy dismissed the allegations outside Parliament, clarifying that while smoking is barred inside the building, it is permissible in designated outdoor areas. "We cannot smoke inside the building, but we can outside... Leaders lying inside Parliament is unfortunate," Roy quipped, defending his party's conduct and accusing Thakur of fabricating claims for political mileage. Social media erupted with divided reactions, from BJP supporters hailing Thakur's exposé to critics labelling it a distraction tactic amid stalled legislative debates on key bills. The row adds to the winter session's fractious tone, where opposition walkouts and privilege motions have dominated since its November 25 commencement.

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As the session progresses toward its December 20 adjournment, the e-cigarette controversy could prompt a formal probe if complaints materialise, potentially leading to sanctions under House rules. It also reignites calls for stricter anti-smoking enforcement in public spaces, aligning with India's public health campaigns amid rising youth tobacco use statistics from the Global Adult Tobacco Survey.

With no immediate identification of the accused MP—speculation swirled around figures like Mahua Moitra based on past viral clips—the episode exemplifies how personal barbs can derail substantive discourse, testing Speaker Birla's authority in balancing free expression with order in India's raucous parliamentary democracy.

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