TMC MP Saugata Roy defends smoking outside Parliament; slams BJP with pollution jibe

Trinamool Congress MP Saugata Roy on Friday dismissed the controversy surrounding a viral video that showed him smoking outside the Parliament complex, labeling the uproar as "manufactured" and based on a false premise. Speaking to reporters, Roy defended his actions by clarifying the rules: "Smoking cigarettes inside the House is prohibited, but there is no objection to smoking cigarettes in the open space outside the House."

The controversy erupted after the clip, showing the veteran MP smoking on the Parliament premises, was widely circulated on social media. Union Ministers Giriraj Singh and Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, who were visible nearby in the video, voiced their concerns regarding both public health and the dignity of the House, thereby escalating the issue into a political row that has characterized the Winter Session.

Roy, however, turned the focus back onto the ruling party, stating they should concentrate on more pressing issues. "Pollution in Delhi is at its highest during the BJP government. They should focus on this instead of making such allegations," he said. This exchange follows a similar incident a day earlier, where BJP MP Anurag Thakur accused an unnamed TMC member of smoking an e-cigarette inside the Lok Sabha and urged Speaker Om Birla to take action against the violation of the nationwide vaping ban.