Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath delivered a sharp rebuttal in the state Assembly on Monday, dismissing allegations of deaths due to fake medicines and codeine syrup. The Chief Minister categorically stated that no such fatalities have come to the government's notice, while launching a counter-attack on the opposition Samajwadi Party (SP).
A Heated Exchange in the Assembly
The controversy erupted when Leader of the Opposition, Mata Prasad Pandey, and other SP members raised the issue, with some jumping into the well of the House demanding a discussion. They alleged deaths had occurred from the consumption of spurious drugs and codeine-laced cough syrup. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Suresh Khanna termed the protest an attempt to create unnecessary confusion, reiterating that no deaths from codeine syrup were reported in UP.
Speaker Satish Mahana attempted to pacify the members, noting that since an adjournment motion notice was given, the issue would be heard from both sides before a decision. However, he clarified that an immediate discussion was not possible as the demand was not raised under a specific rule.
CM's Scathing Attack and SP Links Allegation
In his response, CM Adityanath used the Hindi proverb 'Chor Ki Dadhi Mein Tinka' (literally, a straw in the beard of the thief, implying a guilty conscience) to target the SP and its president, Akhilesh Yadav. He asserted that the ongoing investigation clearly points to the involvement of individuals associated with the Samajwadi Party.
The Chief Minister specifically named the main accused, Shubham Jaiswal, currently believed to be in Dubai. He claimed Jaiswal obtained his drug trade license in 2016, when the SP was in power in the state. "When the matter is investigated in depth, the same fact repeatedly emerges: that a leader or person associated with the Samajwadi Party is found to be involved," Yogi stated.
He further alleged that Jaiswal's partners, including Amit Yadav, have held positions in the SP's frontal organizations. Referring to public domain photographs, the CM took a dig, saying, "Whenever such issues come up nationally, some people immediately flee the country. I think the same may be happening with your people as well."
Details of the Case and Government Action
Clarifying the nature of the issue, the Chief Minister explained that codeine cough syrup is not manufactured in Uttar Pradesh but in states like Madhya Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh. The problem, he said, is one of "illegal diversion." Wholesalers in cities like Saharanpur, Ghaziabad, Lucknow, Kanpur, and Varanasi allegedly supplied the syrup to prohibition states and countries, where addicts misused it.
"The cases of death which occurred are also from other states. These cases are derived due to syrup manufactured in Tamil Nadu," he added, distancing UP from the fatalities.
Providing details of the crackdown, Yogi Adityanath informed the House that 79 cases have been registered under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, naming 225 accused. So far, 78 arrests have been made, and raids conducted on 134 firms. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been constituted to probe deeper. He also mentioned that illegal transactions were traced to an account of an office-bearer of the Lohia Vahini, a group linked to the SP.
In a parting shot referencing the government's anti-encroachment drives, the CM said, "Don't worry, at the appropriate time, we will be fully prepared for the bulldozer action, so don't howl then." He also criticized the LoP, Mata Prasad Pandey, suggesting the SP made him lie despite his age and experience as a former Speaker.
