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‘Codeine pe charcha karo’: Day 2 of UP Assembly session sees SP-BJP clash over cough syrup racket

Demanding a debate during the ongoing Winter Session, Samajwadi Party leaders alleged children had died due to the syrup. The Parliamentary Affairs Minister refuted the claims.

2 min readLucknowUpdated: Dec 22, 2025 01:58 PM IST

Protests by Samajwadi Party MLAs outside the UP Assembly over the cough syrup racket

Samajwadi Party leaders hold a massive protest against the state govt over the cough syrup issue on the second day of the Winter Session at the state assembly in Lucknow on Monday. Vishal Srivastav

The second day of the Winter Session of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly descended into chaos on Monday over the codeine cough syrup racket.

As soon as the House convened, Samajwadi Party leaders alleged children had died due to the syrup and demanded an immediate debate. Even as Parliamentary Affairs Minister Suresh Khanna objected to the allegations and maintained that no child had died due to cough syrup in the state, SP MLAs moved into the Well of the House, raising slogans of “codeine pe charcha karo”.

Leader of Opposition Mata Prasad Pandey, demanding a debate over the racket, alleged, “The matter of the codeine network has spread not just in Uttar Pradesh, but across the country. Even the WHO has taken cognizance of the same, many children have died, transactions of thousands of rupees have taken place. With the government having its own intelligence, it should have known about it beforehand.”

On allegations by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath that SP leaders were connected with the arrested accused, Pandey said, “There should be a discussion so that the Chief Minister’s reply becomes clear… If Samajwadi Party people are found involved, then action should be taken against them but, at the same time, action on the houses of all others involved should also take place.”

Replying to Pandey, Khanna said, “You are talking about codeine syrup. There has not been any death because of it in Uttar Pradesh. The Speaker has already accepted the notice for discussion, and the government is ready to reply to the issue, but the Opposition is merely spreading negativity and rumors…”

The SP MLAs finally called off their protest after the Speaker assured that the issue would be taken up later in the day.

“The issue would be taken up under Rule 56. While you have alleged that deaths have taken place, the government has refuted [this]. The government would put forward its side, and you would put yours,” said Speaker Satish Mahana.

Maulshree Seth

Maulshree Seth is an Assistant Editor with The Indian Express, based in Lucknow. With over 15 years of experience in mainstream journalism, she has built a formidable reputation for her on-ground reporting across Uttar Pradesh. Her expertise spans a wide array of critical beats, including state politics, governance, the judiciary, and rural development. Authoritativeness Maulshree’s work is characterized by depth and historical context. Her coverage of high-stakes state elections and landmark judicial rulings has established her as an authoritative voice on the intersection of law and politics in Northern India. She is frequently recognized for her ability to gain access to primary sources and for her nuanced understanding of the socio-economic factors that drive the world's most populous sub-national entity. Trustworthiness & Ethical Journalism Her reporting is rooted in rigorous fact-checking and a steadfast dedication to neutral, unbiased storytelling. By prioritizing field-based verification—often traveling to the most remote corners of the state—she ensures that her readers receive a truthful and comprehensive view of events. ... Read More

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