Tripura BJP MLA watches obscene video on mobile phone in Assembly

The MLA represents the Bagbssa Assembly constituency

A video showing a 55-year-old BJP MLA in Tripura allegedly watching porn in his mobile phone inside the State Assembly has gone viral, drawing strong criticism from the Opposition parties.

The video, which was recorded by someone sitting close to him inside the Assembly, showed the MLA, Jadav Lal Debnath scrolling through his mobile phone and pausing to allegedly watch porn content. Debnath represents the Bagbssa Assembly constituency.

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Although the MLA has not yet reacted to the video shared by many on social media yet, Opposition Tipra Motha has demanded an inquiry and action against Debnath. Animesh Debbarma, an MLA of Tipra Motha, who is also the leader of the Opposition, told reporters at Agartala that the incident reportedly took place on March 27, during the budget session of Tripura Assembly.

"We condemn such an immoral act inside the Assembly. We demand that Debnath should immediately resign like the way a BJP MLA in Karnataka had done in 2012 for a similar act. We also urge the Speaker to immediately institute an inquiry and initiate action against him," Debbarma told reporters

"In Odisha, a Congress MLA was suspended by the Speaker a few years ago for a similar immoral act. Such an act by an MLA inside the Assembly sends a wrong message to the society," Deb Barma said.

Speaker Biswabandhu Sen told local television channels that he has not yet received any complaint and is not in a position to comment without verifying the same.

Sources said BJP has already sought an explanation from the MLA as the video has caused embarrassment to the ruling party. BJP and IPFT recently retained power in Tripura for the second straight term while Tipra Motha emerged as the second-largest party by winning 13 seats.