India, Oct. 10 -- The tragic deaths of children in Chhindwara, reportedly caused by consumption of contaminated cough syrup, have not only exposed administrative lapses but also laid bare the growing disunity within the Madhya Pradesh Congress. The principal Opposition party, already grappling with internal rifts, has struggled to mount a coordinated response to an issue that has deeply shaken public sentiment across the State.
Since September 6, several children between the ages of 0 to 6 have died from kidney failure, allegedly linked to a cough syrup, Coldrif. The State Government, accused of apathy and delayed action, stirred into response only after the death toll reached 22.
Preliminary laboratory tests indicated the syrup's toxicit...