Yogi targets Samajwadi Party, Congress leadership, Akhilesh hits back

Yogi Targets Samajwadi Party, Congress Leadership, Akhilesh Hits Back

In a blistering attack on opposition leaders, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath launched a scathing verbal assault on Monday, December 22, 2025, during the winter session of the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly. The Chief Minister's sharp words aimed directly at Congress MP Rahul Gandhi and Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav, as he sought to deflect allegations of an illegal codeine-based cough syrup trade from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Adityanath, known for his unapologetic style of politics, didn't mince words when he called Gandhi and Yadav "two namoone" (specimens/characters) who "flee the country whenever serious matters come up." The remark was a veiled jab at the opposition leaders, implying that they are absent during critical national issues. The Chief Minister went a step further by suggesting that Yadav would "leave the country again for a trip to England," a thinly veiled reference to the SP chief's past travel plans.

The controversy surrounding the codeine cough syrup trade has been simmering for weeks, with 78 people arrested and raids conducted at 134 locations in connection with the case. Adityanath clarified that the production of codeine cough syrup does not occur in Uttar Pradesh but takes place in neighboring states like Madhya Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh. The matter involves the illegal diversion of regulated medicines through an organized network.

The BJP government has been quick to blame the previous Samajwadi Party government, which was in power from 2012 to 2017, for issuing manufacturing and distribution licenses that were later misused. Adityanath specifically named two individuals with alleged links to the SP: Alok Sipahi, an accused with viral photos alongside Yadav, and Shubham Jaiswal, a major stockist of Shaili Traders and claimed business partner of Amit Yadav, the state secretary of SP's Yuvjan Sabha and former candidate from Varanasi Cantt.

The Chief Minister also alleged that financial transactions in the syrup case passed through the account of an office-bearer of the SP's Lohia Vahini. Adityanath framed the controversy as politically motivated rather than factual and warned that those involved would face "such strict action that they won't even be left in a state where they can recite" (statement incomplete in sources). He dismissed the opposition's charges and suggested the SP was attempting to mislead people, pointing to alleged illegal activities during the party's 2012-2017 tenure in power.

However, Akhilesh Yadav hit back by interpreting Adityanath's remarks as an "open admission of internal discord within the BJP." He called the statement a "self-admission" and expressed surprise that the supposed Delhi-Lucknow power tussle had become so evident. Yadav claimed it was "unimaginable" that an illegal cough syrup business of such scale could operate from the Prime Minister's parliamentary constituency. He demanded "bulldozer action against all mafias," specifically calling for action against "Kalin Bhaiya" and "Codeine Bhaiya."

Yadav's response was not limited to a statement; he also took to social media platform X, stating: "Self-admission! No one had expected that the Delhi-Lucknow fight would reach this point. People holding constitutional positions should maintain at least some sense of propriety and not cross the limits of decorum."

The SP chief's assertion that the controversy reflects an internal power struggle within the BJP is not without merit. The Samajwadi Party has repeatedly claimed that a power tussle exists between the Yogi Adityanath government in Uttar Pradesh and the BJP leadership at the Centre. Those alleging this power struggle have pointed to the appointment of Deputy Chief Ministers and specific bureaucrats as evidence of efforts to limit the Chief Minister's powers, though Adityanath has dismissed such claims.

This is not Adityanath's first use of colorful language against opposition figures. Earlier, he mocked Gandhi, Yadav, and RJD's Tejashwi Prasad Yadav, showcasing his willingness to engage in rhetorical battles. However, the opposition's response to the codeine cough syrup controversy has forced the Chief Minister to walk a tightrope, balancing his party's image with the need to address the alleged illicit trade.

As the controversy continues to unfold, one thing is clear: the stakes are high in Uttar Pradesh, and the opposition is ready to seize any opportunity to embarrass the ruling BJP. The battle between the Chief Minister and the opposition has only just begun, and it's anyone's guess what will happen next in this high-stakes game of politics.