Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Friday made a significant political accusation, claiming that individuals arrested for their alleged involvement in a large-scale illegal codeine-based cough syrup supply network have connections to the principal opposition party, the Samajwadi Party. The allegations and counter-allegations have set the stage for a heated political battle in the state.
Political Accusations Fly Over Narcotics Racket
Addressing reporters ahead of the Winter session of the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly, CM Adityanath stated, "Everyone knows that every 'mafia' group has ties with the Samajwadi Party." He revealed that initial investigations by the Special Task Force (STF) and UP Police have indicated links between some of the arrested accused and the Samajwadi Party. He asserted that the involvement of the SP, which he described as having a "notorious and tarnished reputation," would be thoroughly exposed as a state-level Special Investigation Team (SIT) is overseeing the entire case.
The SIT includes officers from the UP Police and the Food Safety and Drug Administration (FSDA). Adityanath took a sharp jab at SP President Akhilesh Yadav, suggesting he was "cleaning the mirror to remove dust from his own face." The CM assured that the truth would emerge as the investigation progresses, stating, "Let the investigation proceed. The truth will be revealed to everyone."
Akhilesh Yadav's Counter-Allegation of a BJP Shield
These claims from the Chief Minister came a day after Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav launched a fierce attack on the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party government. On Thursday, following a meeting of SP MLAs, Yadav alleged that a massive scam involving the illegal supply of codeine-based cough syrups, worth thousands of crores of rupees, originated in Uttar Pradesh.
He directly accused the BJP government of protecting those involved in the racket. In a pointed attack targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Yadav claimed the illegal operation started from the "area of Pradhan Sansad" (a reference to the Varanasi parliamentary constituency represented by PM Modi). Yadav confirmed that the alleged codeine and cough syrup racket was a major issue discussed by his party for the upcoming assembly session.
The Scale of the Investigation and Legal Framework
Chief Minister Adityanath provided details on the legal and administrative actions taken. He explained that codeine phosphate, used in manufacturing certain cough syrups, is regulated under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, with its use controlled by the central narcotics bureau. The state government initiated action after receiving complaints about its misuse as a narcotic substance and illegal trafficking in various regions.
A coordinated effort involving the Food and Drug Safety Administration (FDSA), UP Police, and the STF is underway. This investigation has already uncovered a large-scale illegal trafficking operation, leading to numerous arrests. Officials clarified that while codeine-based syrups under Schedule H are legal when sold with a valid prescription, violations occur when bulk quantities are supplied without proper documentation, often leading to abuse as intoxicants.
First Information Reports (FIRs) have been registered against 128 establishments spread across 28 districts under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the NDPS Act. The political blame game over this significant narcotics racket is likely to dominate the proceedings of the UP assembly, even as the session began on a somber note due to the sudden demise of a sitting MLA.
