UP Speaker Bans Gutka and Pan Masala in Assembly, Fines for Spitting

Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India] March 05: After an MLA was found spitting the tobacco product, UP Assembly Speaker Satish Mahana said on Wednesday that the eating of pan masala and gutka is no longer allowed inside the premises.

The speaker, who was obviously upset over the incident, warned to punish anyone seen eating pan masala and gutka on the assembly grounds ₹1000.

"With immediate effect, it has been banned to eat pan-masala and gutka on Vidhan Sabha property.  If someone eats pan-masala and gutka on Vidhan Sabha property, they will be fined ₹1,000 and will undergo to the necessary legal procedure," Mahana said.

One of the MLAs was found to have consumed a pan and spit it out inside the assembly hall, Mahana revealed.

 In his Wednesday speech to the House, Mahana disclosed that he had the space cleaned.

 Mahana was unable to recognise the MLA who committed the crime, but he admitted that he had seen a video of him.

"This morning, I received information that in this hall of our Vidhan Sabha, a member had spit after consuming pan masala. So, I came here and got it cleaned. I have seen the MLA in the video. But I do not want to humiliate any individual. So, I am not taking their name. I urge all members that if they see anyone doing this, they should stop them," he said in the assembly today.

"Keeping this assembly clean is our responsibility. If the MLA in question comes and tells me that they have done this, it will be good; otherwise, I will call them," Mahana continued.

On February 20, Uttar Pradesh's finance minister, Suresh Kumar Khanna, revealed the state budget for 2025–2026.  With a focus on infrastructure development, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath claimed that the state's budget is 9.8% larger than the 2024–25 budget.

"This budget is over 8,08,736 crore Rs, which is 9.8% higher than the 2024-25 budget," CM Yogi stated during a press conference.