Kirti Azad: Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Kirti Azad was caught vaping in a video shared by the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP). Azad was seen vaping in the Lower House during the ongoing Parliament session.
BJP IT Chief Amit Malviya said rules and laws clearly hold no meaning for people like Kirti Azad. Malviya further commented he is astonished with the audacity of Azad to hide an e-Cigarette in his palm while in the House. The BJP IT Chief demanded that TMC Chief and West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee must clarify on the misconduct of her MPs.
Azad had said while responding to Thakur’s allegations in the past by saying any allegation against a MP or party needs to be proved. Azad had also commented that Thakur has served as a Union Minister and must be aware of the basic rules and regulations.
In a social media post, BJP leader Pradeep Bhandari called the action of Kirti Azad as an “insult to the temple of Democracy” and a “crime.”
How The Kirti Azad Vaping Controversy Originated?
A few days back, BJP MP Anurag Thakur had filed a written complaint to Om Birla, the Lok Sabha Speaker. Thakur sought action against a TMC lawmaker for allegedly using an e-Cigarette inside the House. The Hamirpur MP went on to add that the act by the TMC MP was “clearly visible” to many members present in the Lok Sabha.
Sources in the Lok Sabha Secretariat said the matter is being considered seriously. It was added that appropriate action would be initiated as per the established norms after recordings of the proceedings are examined.
In a written complaint, Thakur reminded the Lok Sabha Speaker that the manufacturing, production, export, import or sale including online distribution, storage, sale or advertisement of e-Cigarettes are completely prohibited across the country under the Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes (Production, manufacture, import, export, transport, sale, distribution, storage and advertisement) Act, 2019.
