People are suffering under BJP rule: Akhilesh Yadav

Akhilesh Yadav shared a clip of a news headline on 'X' titled “2.24 crore bottles sent by Shubham (Shubham Jaiswal, accused in the illegal trade) to Bangladesh,” writing: “What people initially thought was a local crime turned out to be statewide when the first layer was peeled, then nationwide when another layer was uncovered, and now it is emerging as an Asia-level crime.”

Akhilesh Yadav said, “Mafia rule has not ended in Uttar Pradesh; rather, it has been promoted. There is a 'mega-mafia rule' of the BJP in Uttar Pradesh, which is reaching people's homes in 'bottled' form and proving deadly.”

The SP chief said that the BJP is playing the final phase of its last innings; its overs are now 'over.' The entire BJP team is getting 'all out' even before the match ends.The exchange of allegations and counter-allegations between the ruling BJP and opposition parties, especially the SP, continues over the illegal trade in codeine-based cough syrup.

This issue was also raised vigorously during the winter session of the assembly. SP members staged protests and created a ruckus both inside and outside the House.

On the very first day of the assembly session (December 19, 2025), Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath told reporters, “A state-level Special Investigation Team (SIT) is working to probe this case, which includes officers from the Uttar Pradesh Police and the Food Safety and Drug Administration (FSDA). Whoever the money from this illegal trade reached will come to light in the investigation.”