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Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav criticized the Uttar Pradesh government for obstructing his planned visit to the Jai Prakash Narayan International Centre (JPNIC) in Lucknow on October 11, the birth anniversary of the freedom fighter and socialist leader Jayaprakash Narayan. Authorities barricaded the main entrance with tin sheets and deployed police forces to restrict access, also securing the area near Yadav’s residence on Vikramaditya Marg to prevent SP members from gathering for the tribute.
The Lucknow Development Authority (LDA) issued a letter denying Yadav permission to visit, stating that JPNIC is an active construction site, raising safety concerns about scattered materials and potential insect infestations. The LDA highlighted that Yadav’s Z-plus category security rendered the visit unsafe due to the ongoing work, which has been stalled since the BJP came to power in 2017. Last year, Yadav had to climb over the gate to garland the statue of JP Narayan when he was similarly denied access.
In response to the restrictions, Yadav accused the BJP of employing colonial-era tactics to silence dissent and prevent Samajwadi Party members from honoring JP Narayan. He took to social media, posting videos showing heavy police deployment and barricades, and asserted that these actions reflect a broader pattern of negativity and hostility from the ruling party towards the ideals of freedom fighters. "Every year on Jai Prakash Narayan Jayanti, we honor him. Why is the government trying to hide this?" he asked, implying that the closure of the site might indicate plans for privatization or neglect.
Yadav’s allegations were echoed by senior SP leader Shivpal Singh Yadav, who argued that the BJP's actions signify a threat to democracy and warned that such a dictatorial approach is unsustainable in a democratic setup. Shivpal's social media posts condemned the government's efforts to stifle the party's tribute as a sign of authoritarianism.
BJP national spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari countered Yadav’s accusations, asserting that the decision to deny access was based on safety and the incomplete status of the construction at JPNIC. Bhandari suggested that if Yadav truly wished to pay tribute, he could have done so from his office instead of politicizing the situation. He also stated that the SP has strayed from the values of JP Narayan, accusing them of political stunts after recent electoral setbacks in Haryana.
The JPNIC, which Yadav inaugurated in 2016 during his tenure as chief minister, houses a museum dedicated to Jai Prakash Narayan and is intended to serve as a cultural and educational center. The current status of the center, coupled with the LDA's justification for blocking Yadav's visit, has raised concerns among SP supporters regarding the treatment of legacy projects initiated by previous governments.
भाजपाई लोग हों या इनकी सरकार, इनका हर काम नकारात्मक का प्रतीक है। पिछली बार की तरह समाजवादी लोग कहीं ‘जय प्रकाश नारायण जी’ की जयंती पर उनकी मूर्ति पर माल्यार्पण करने न चले जाएं, इसीलिए उन्हें रोकने के लिए हमारे निजी आवास के आसपास बैरिकेडिंग कर दी गयी है।
— Akhilesh Yadav (@yadavakhilesh) October 11, 2024
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