"Because Madhya Pradesh CM is from... ": V Hanumanth Rao backs Digvijaya Singh's claim on cough syrup row

Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], October 26 (ANI): Senior Congress leader V Hanumanth Rao on Sunday echoed Digvijaya Singh's explosive allegation that the BJP had received Rs 945 crore in electoral bonds from pharmaceutical companies.
Rao's remarks come amid growing outrage over the deaths of 26 children allegedly linked to the consumption of contaminated Coldrif cough syrup in Madhya Pradesh.
At a press conference in Bhopal yesterday former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Digvijaya Singh accused the state's BJP government of shielding the pharmaceutical firms involved. He alleged that no strict action was taken against the companies "because they donate election funds to the BJP."
Supporting Singh's statement, V Hanumanth Rao condemned BJP's alleged inaction. "No action was taken; this is the culture of the BJP. Why haven't they taken action against the companies? Whatever their people are doing, they are not taking this issue seriously. This is a serious allegation. Because the Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister is from the BJP, they are keeping quiet," Rao told ANI.
Earlier, Congress MP Karti Chidambaram said that it was incumbent upon the Tamil Nadu government to explain the approval of these cough syrup batches since they were manufactured in the southern state.
"It is most distressing to note that more than 20 children have passed away who were administered spurious cough syrup. Investigation has revealed that the cough syrup was manufactured in Tamil Nadu. It is incumbent upon the Tamil Nadu government to explain how these batches of cough syrup were approved," Chidambaram told reporters here.
As this happened, Tamil Nadu Drugs Control Department earlier announced the cancellation of the manufacturing license of Sresan Pharmaceutical company, the manufacturer of Coldrif cough syrup, linked with deaths of many people in Madhya Pradesh.
The state health department stated that the company has been officially shut down after its investigation of toxic contaminants, specifically Diethylene Glycol (DEG), in their cough syrup, Coldrif.
Additionally, the department ordered comprehensive inspections across all pharmaceutical manufacturing units in Tamil Nadu, and large-scale inspections are currently in progress throughout the State.
A Parasia court sent Sresan Pharma owner Ranganathan to 10-day police custody after he was arrested on October 9 in Chennai by an SIT from Madhya Pradesh. Two senior drug inspectors have also been suspended for dereliction of duty. The Tamil Nadu government has ordered comprehensive inspections of other pharmaceutical manufacturing companies in the state. (ANI)