BJP 'identifies' TMC MP who vaped inside Parliament; shares video
What's the story
Amit Malviya, the Bharatiya Janata Party's IT cell chief, has claimed that the Trinamool Congress MP accused of vaping inside the Lok Sabha is Kirti Azad. The allegation comes after BJP MP Anurag Thakur accused an unnamed MP of smoking inside the House for days and raised a complaint. Malviya shared a 35-second video on X, which he claimed showed Azad vaping. In it, Azad is seen making a gesture resembling smoking but no actual cigarette or e-cigarette is visible.
Rule breach
Malviya accuses Azad of breaching parliamentary rules
Malviya accused Azad of violating parliamentary norms by vaping inside the Lower House. He said, "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 also demanded clarification from TMC head and West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee on this alleged misconduct.
Twitter Post
Malviya shares video
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!
— Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) December 17, 2025
Smoking may not be illegal, but… pic.twitter.com/kZGnYcP0Iu
Complaint filed
Thakur's complaint and Birla's response
Thakur had earlier complained to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla about TMC MPs vaping in the House. He pointed out that e-cigarettes are banned across India and demanded strict action against the offenders. In his complaint, Thakur said, "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."
Speaker's assurance
Birla assures action, highlights need for parliamentary decorum
Thakur said such conduct lowers the dignity of the House, sets an "extremely poor precedent", and sends a dangerous message to the youth at a time when the government and Parliament have taken a firm stand against all forms of tobacco and nicotine products. Birla assured Thakur that he would take action if a written complaint was submitted. "We must adhere to parliamentary traditions and rules. If such matters come to my attention, I will act," Birla said.
Past controversies
Previous incidents of smoking controversies in Parliament
E-cigarettes are banned under the Electronic Cigarettes (Prohibition) Act, 2019, which prohibits their production, sale and advertising with penalties including jail terms and fines. This isn't the first time smoking has sparked controversy in Parliament. In 2015, when smoking was banned inside the House, a designated 'smoking room' was converted into an office for the Trinamool. MPs from both treasury and opposition benches had complained to then-Speaker Sumitra Mahajan about this decision.