| The Opposition even staged a walkout on the issues, alleging the government's collusion with the cola companies in keeping the contaminated drinks in the market. |
| "How dare the health minister say that an investigation will be launched when it is proven that there is something to be done," said V K Malhotra of the BJP. |
| The matter came up during Zero Hour with a discussion initiated by Ramji Lal Suman of the Samajwadi Party who said that a similar study made three years ago ought to have alerted the government to the dangers of these drinks. |
| "I am very sorry to say that despite a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) probe in the issue, nothing seems to have been done," he said. |
| By far the most damaging statement, however, was made by Mohammad Salim of the CPM who alleged that there was collusion between the government and the cola companies. |
| "We have to save our dignity too since it was a JPC which recommended action after a similar report came out in 2003. What kind of sponsorship is the government getting from the cola companies," he said. "Why has the health ministry not notified guidelines till now?" he added. |
| "We have banned these drinks in Parliament yet we allow sales in the country...," he said. |
| Prabhunath Singh of the JD(U) said that the delay in notification of the standards for the drinks brought both the health secretary and the health minister within the ambit of suspicion. "We want a JPC to probe the intentions behind the delay in notification of parameters," he said. |
| Santosh Gangwar, chief whip of the BJP, added that the tests also proved that India's groundwater itself was polluted as well. "There should be standards for the food and drink that are sold in the country," he said. |
| Parliamentary Affairs Minister P R Dasmunsi vehemently denied allegations of collusion between the government and the cola companies. |
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