'Fish medicine' for asthma, a blind faith: AP Lokayukta

Calling the famous 'fish medicine' for asthma administered by Bathini Harinath Goud and his associates here as "simple and blind faith", Andhra Pradesh Lokayukta today directed the state government not to sponsor it in any way.

The annual 'fish prasadam' distribution event, where patients throng from across the country, is scheduled here on June 8 and 9.

Achyutha Rao, President of Balala Hakkula Sangham, had filed a complaint, questioning the assistance extended by the government to Goud family for the event.

In his order, Lokayukta Justice B Subhashan Reddy said, "Neither there is any law made by any legislative body nor is there subordinate legislation and the government on its own without any legal sanction cannot sponsor any event like the instant one.

"It is clear from the verdicts of both the High Court and the Civil Court that there is no public purpose in conducting the fish prasadam meetings, and it is the simple and blind belief of the people gathering at a place with the fond hope that the fish with some unknown substance thrust into their mouths cures asthma or prevents onset of the same.

"At best such beliefs are only superstitious as it is held authoritatively both by the High Court and Civil Court that there is no scientific proof about the asthma curing substance being administered by Bathini Harinath Goud," Lokayukta said.