The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) staged a protest in Jaipur on Saturday, expressing outrage over the tragic deaths of two children allegedly linked to cough syrups manufactured by Kaysons Pharma, a Rajasthan-based pharmaceutical company. The demonstrators demanded the immediate shutdown of the company, accusing it of negligence and calling out the Bhajan Lal Sharma-led Rajasthan government for what they claimed was a lack of accountability in ensuring medicine safety. The protest took place outside the premises of Kaysons Pharma, where several AAP workers gathered to raise slogans such as “Shut down Kaysons Pharma,” “Stop playing with the lives of children,” and “Wake up, Bhajan Lal Sharma government.” Security was tightened around the facility to prevent any escalation during the protest.
The protest came shortly after the state’s Medical and Health Department suspended the supply of all 19 medicines produced by Kaysons Pharma, as well as all syrups containing dextromethorphan, pending further investigation. This action followed reports that two children from Rajasthan’s Sikar district had died after allegedly consuming the company’s cough syrup. The incident has caused widespread concern among parents and health officials, leading to calls for stricter quality control in the pharmaceutical sector.
As the protest intensified, AAP workers attempted to lock down the facility, but they were stopped by the police. Authorities confirmed that the AAP workers did not have official permission to hold a protest, and the situation was brought under control without any major confrontation. “This is Kaysons Pharma, which manufactures cough syrup. They (AAP) did not have permission to hold a protest, so I refused to allow them to continue. They have agreed now,” a senior police officer was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.
Meanwhile, Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma took “serious note” of the matter and directed a detailed investigation into the alleged link between the syrups and the children’s deaths. An expert committee was constituted to look into the issue and determine whether lapses in quality control or production standards led to the tragedy. Officials have also stated that the Union government had issued an advisory as far back as 2021, warning against the administration of dextromethorphan to children below four years of age. The Drug Controller General of India has since reaffirmed that the drug should be given only to children above five years old and never to those under two.
Government records reveal that since 2012, over 10,000 samples of medicines produced by Kaysons Pharma have been tested, with 42 of them failing to meet the prescribed quality standards. Despite this, officials have maintained that medicines currently in government stock have undergone multiple safety tests and were found to be safe. “Medicines in government stock have been tested four times and found safe,” Khinvsar, a senior health official, said. “Still, we are conducting additional sampling wherever there is any doubt.”
The incident has reignited debate over drug regulation and pharmaceutical oversight in India, highlighting the urgent need for stricter enforcement of safety norms. The AAP has vowed to continue its campaign until those responsible are held accountable and justice is delivered to the families of the victims. Meanwhile, the state government faces increasing pressure to demonstrate transparency in the investigation and to ensure that such tragedies do not occur again.
