Yogi: Akhilesh Yadav, the leader of the Samajwadi Party, attempted on Monday to use Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s “do namune” jab as a political “gotcha” moment. He claimed that the comment was a self-goal that amounted to an open admission of an alleged rift within the Bharatiya Janata Party, specifically between its Delhi and Lucknow power centers.

Speaking in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly on Monday, Adityanath took jabs at opposition leaders Akhilesh Yadav and Rahul Gandhi during a political slugfest over the purported illicit trafficking of codeine-based cough medication.

The chief minister responded to accusations made by the Samajwadi Party on the second day of the Vidhan Sabha’s winter session by dismissing the claims as “politically motivated” and claiming that the opposition’s commotion was an example of chor ki dadhi mein tinka (a guilty conscience).

“The nation has two Namune,” Adityanath said. One is in Lucknow, while the other is in Delhi. These people instantly leave the nation if there is any debate over any topic.

“I think the same thing is happening with your ‘Babua,'” he said. Using a phrase he regularly uses to disparage Akhilesh Yadav at political rallies, he added, “You people will keep shouting here, and he will also leave the country again for a trip to England.”

The chief minister’s scathing comments coincided with a growing verbal spat over the purported smuggling of codeine cough medication. At a news conference last week, Akhilesh Yadav said that the racket started in the Prime Minister’s parliamentary constituency. The BJP and the state administration strongly objected to this accusation.

Adityanath vehemently denied the Samajwadi Party’s claims that the illicit trade had cost thousands of crores of rupees and that hundreds of children had allegedly died as a result. He said the case was being looked into and that the evidence might eventually lead to the opposition party.

“I believe that if you go deeper into this issue, it will all come down to the same thing—that some Samajwadi Party leader or individual is involved,” he said.

Adityanath further said that money connected to the purported syrup ring had gone via the account of a Samajwadi Party official named Lohia Vahini. In this syrup instance, the transaction also passed via the account of Lohia Vahini, an official of the Samajwadi Party. He informed the House that the Special Task Force is looking into the situation.

The chief minister cited recent court decisions, stating that the High Court had decided that the NDPS Act should be used to pursue the matter as a whole. He said, “The Uttar Pradesh government has fought this battle and won.”

Adityanath provided statistics to demonstrate the scope of the action so far, stating that 78 individuals had been detained, 225 accused had been identified, and 79 charges had been filed. In relation to the alleged scheme, he said, searches had been carried out on 134 businesses.

The chief minister claimed the scam was far larger than what has come to light so far and promised “bulldozer-style” action against all “mafias,” including those affiliated with the Samajwadi Party, warning that the government would not be lenient with anyone engaged.

“In this instance, none of the accused will go away. Don’t worry, bulldozer action will also be prepared for when the time comes. Then don’t whine,” he added.

Akhilesh Yadav reacted angrily, claiming that the chief minister’s “do namune” comment was a “self-admission” and revealed the BJP’s internal strife. The former chief minister of Uttar Pradesh said in a post on X that the comments demonstrated that the Delhi-Lucknow rivalry inside the governing party had escalated to a “unexpected level.”

“Admission of oneself. Nobody anticipated that the conflict between Delhi and Lucknow would get to this stage. Yadav said that those in constitutional positions had to maintain at least a modicum of decorum and refrain from transgressing it.

He also criticized the governing party for publicly displaying its internal conflicts. “The internal strife inside the BJP should not be brought to the fore by its leaders. Someone may have to back off if they take offense, Yadav continued.