Jaipur, Jan 29 (NationPress) The controversy surrounding hookah bars and the alleged illicit activities associated with them ignited a fierce political clash in the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly on Thursday. The ruling BJP and the opposition Congress engaged in a spirited debate during Question Hour.

The issue was introduced by Deputy Leader of the Opposition Ramkesh Meena, who inquired about the actions taken against hookah bars throughout the state.

In response, Minister of State for Home Affairs Jawahar Singh Bedham drew parallels between the former Congress administration and the current BJP government, resulting in vehement protests and chants from Congress MLAs.

While facing multiple interruptions, Bedham asserted that hookah bars flourished extensively during Congress's leadership. "In 2022, when hookah bars and related illegal activities peaked, 55,326 cases were documented. By 2023, this number decreased to 25,885, and following our government’s decisive actions, cases have further diminished to 12,598," he stated in the assembly.

The minister further claimed that during the Congress administration, hookah bars operated at approximately 55,000 locations, inciting loud dissent from the opposition. As tensions escalated, Speaker Vasudev Devnani intervened, warning members against politicizing the matter.

"Regardless of which party governs, the operation of hookah bars must cease," the Speaker declared, urging for strict and uniform law enforcement.

During the uproar, Government Chief Whip Jogeshwar Garg commented that once comparisons are made in the assembly, political accountability is expected, escalating the verbal exchanges.

In an effort to restore order, the Speaker instructed the Home Department to maintain heightened surveillance across Rajasthan and ensure decisive action against hookah bars without political bias.

Clarifying the government’s stance, Bedham noted that illegal hookah bar operations persisted during Congress's rule, but the current administration has set up a special task force to combat narcotics and related unlawful activities.

He informed the assembly that from 2023 to 2025, police operations yielded 284 challans and five cases against hookah bars, along with fines totaling Rs 56,000 imposed in accordance with regulations.

Reiterating the assembly’s consensus, the Speaker emphasized that public health and law enforcement must take precedence and directed the government to ensure rigorous enforcement of existing laws across the state.