Ruling, Oppn MPs come together for smokers room

A group of MPs, both from the ruling party and the opposition, on Tuesday met Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan requesting for a ‘smoking room’ after the space adjacent to the Central Hall was converted for other use.

A stenographers pool is now using the room, till now being used by the members to enjoy a smoke.

“Please do not give the news or else anti-smoking activists would throw a spanner in getting an alternate accommodation,” a BJP MP remarked.

A Congress MP, who was also a part of the delegation that met the Speaker, suggested that the place was not apt for stenographers. The Speaker was asked the question on the issue by reporters during a meeting of the press advisory committee.

Mahajan said in half-jest that they should give-up smoking. She, however, immediately added that she had to look after everyone’s demands.

An informal arrangement of having a smokers room was made after Central Hall and lobbies in Parliament House were declared a “no smoking” zone in 2004 by the then Speaker, Somnath Chatterjee.