BJP and SP Lock Horns Over Codeine Cough Syrup Case on First Day of Legislature Session
Lucknow: Politics over the alleged codeine cough syrup trafficking case dominated proceedings throughout the first day of the winter session of the Uttar Pradesh Legislature on Friday.
While Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath launched a scathing attack on Samajwadi Party (SP) president Akhilesh Yadav even before the House convened—accusing him of involvement in the case—Akhilesh retaliated on social media platform X, targeting the state government and both Deputy Chief Ministers.
Soon after, Deputy Chief Ministers Keshav Prasad Maurya and Brajesh Pathak questioned the SP leadership, holding up photographs allegedly showing Akhilesh Yadav with accused individuals in the cough syrup case.
In effect, the entire first day of the session revolved around the cough syrup controversy.
“Photos of the Wanted Seen With Akhilesh”: Brajesh Pathak
Deputy Chief Ministers Keshav Maurya and Brajesh Pathak launched a strong offensive against the Samajwadi Party in connection with the case.
“SP Must Explain How Alok Sipahi Became a Samajwadi”: Keshav Maurya
Speaking to the media, Deputy CM Keshav Maurya said the government is taking the codeine cough syrup case extremely seriously and assured that no guilty person would be spared.
He stated that a photograph had surfaced showing Alok Sipahi and Dabbu Yadav alongside SP chief Akhilesh Yadav.
“It is clearly visible that Alok Sipahi has become a Samajwadi Party member. The Samajwadi Party must answer how this happened,” Maurya said.
New Revelation by Brajesh Pathak
Later in the day, Deputy CM Brajesh Pathak made what he called a fresh disclosure in the case.
He shared photographs with the media showing wanted individuals in the cough syrup racket standing alongside the SP chief.
“What relationship does the SP leader have with these wanted persons standing to his right and left?” Pathak asked, demanding a clear explanation.
Responding to questions from journalists, Pathak alleged that the Samajwadi Party was giving respect and protection to those wanted in the cough syrup case.
“These people are trying to malign the state government. They are members of the SP, nurtured and patronised by the party,” he said.
“SP Shifting Its Sin Onto the Government”: Brajesh Pathak
Brajesh Pathak further accused the Samajwadi Party of attempting to shift its own wrongdoing onto the government.
He said the government is conducting a fair and impartial investigation and that soon “the truth will be clear—milk will be separated from water.”
He added that those who repeatedly pushed the state towards “one district, one mafia,” corruption, misconduct, and lawlessness should first look within themselves.
“Our government is committed to a transparent investigation, and the guilty will be punished,” he asserted.
SP Legislators Stage Protest With Posters and Props
Outside the House, the cough syrup issue continued to dominate the scene. On the first day of the winter session, Samajwadi Party legislators protested in their own distinctive style.
Some arrived on bicycles carrying posters, while others brought bottles symbolising the cough syrup. The SP legislators alleged that the government was shielding the main culprits.
SP MLA from Shikohabad, Mukesh Verma, arrived wearing a poster related to the cough syrup case, expressing anger over the lack of action.
He said that the government, which uses bulldozers on every issue,e has now “lost the key and run out of fuel.” He claimed that no major arrest had been made in the case so far.
SP MLA Brijesh Yadav arrived draped in a poster that read, “Expose the syrup scandal.” SP MLC Ashutosh Sinha reached the Assembly on a bicycle carrying a bottle labelled “cough syrup,” bearing a message:
“The one who consumes this magical cough syrup dies; the seller becomes wealthy, receives political protection, and then escapes abroad.”
SP MLA Zahid Beg from Bhadohi also targeted the government over the cough syrup issue and air pollution.
SP MLA Brajesh arrived wearing a poster promoting cough syrup, while SP MLC Ashutosh brought a cut-out symbolizing the syrup to underscore the protest.
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