Cough syrup deaths: Congress takes out candle march in Bhopal, seeks health minister's ouster
Bhopal (PTI): The Opposition Congress on Thursday took out a candle march here and demanded the resignation of Madhya Pradesh health minister Rajendra Shukla over the deaths of children due to a `contaminated' cough syrup.
State Congress chief Jitu Patwari, Rajya Sabha MP Digvijaya Singh and others participated in the protest at Roshanpura Square.
The bereaved families must get justice and strict action should be taken against those responsible, Patwari told reporters.
"The affected families must receive adequate compensation and justice. The culprits must face the harshest punishment," he demanded.
Digvijaya Singh alleged that the death toll was rising while the government was failing to take concrete action. "The health minister should resign for giving a clean chit to the toxic cough syrup," he said.
So far, 22 children, mostly from Chhindwara, have died due to suspected kidney failure after allegedly consuming the 'Coldrif' syrup. The state government has formed a Special Investigation Team to probe the case.
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Lebanon appoints new representative for talks with Israel, rejects linkage to Iran
Beirut: Lebanon’s has moved to underline its independent position in ongoing regional developments, amid attempts to link the country to the broader conflict involving Iran, the United States and Israel.
President Joseph Aoun, while announcing the appointment of former US ambassador Simon Karam as Lebanon’s representative in talks with Israel, made it clear that Karam would be the sole representative for Lebanon and that there would be no substitute.
The move comes in response to what the Lebanese officials see as efforts by Iran to tie Lebanon’s situation to the wider regional conflict. Iran had indicated that there would be no ceasefire involving the US, Israel and Iran unless it also included a ceasefire in Lebanon.
Some groups, including Hezbollah and its supporters, had expressed support for linking the situations, citing concerns that the Lebanese government has limited leverage in negotiations with Israel. Lebanon is not formally a party to the conflict, and its army is considered weak.
However, others, including Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, have opposed this approach. They view Iran’s stance as an attempt to influence Lebanon’s internal affairs and see it as undermining the country’s sovereignty.
Officials backing the government’s position say the move is aimed at reaffirming Lebanon’s sovereignty and ensuring that decisions about peace and ceasefire within the country are not dictated externally.
They also see it as a safeguard, so that any breakdown in talks between the US, Israel and Iran does not automatically lead to renewed conflict in Lebanon.
