Akhilesh Yadav Criticizes Tin Sheet Barricade at JP Narayan Museum in Lucknow

The JP Museum in Lucknow, dedicated to the revered socialist leader Jayaprakash Narayan, has become a focal point of political discord in Uttar Pradesh. The Samajwadi Party, led by Akhilesh Yadav, has expressed sharp disapproval over the barricading of the museum’s entrance with tin sheets, an act they attribute to the ruling BJP.

In a series of social media posts, Akhilesh Yadav, the former Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, criticized the BJP for what he described as a deliberate effort to prevent the Samajwadi Party from paying tribute to Jayaprakash Narayan on his birth anniversary. The gates to the museum were fortified with barricades on the eve of the anniversary, a move Yadav claims is intended to suppress Samajwadi members from garlanding Narayan’s statue, a tradition they have upheld over the years.

Yadav alleged that the BJP government’s actions were emblematic of “negativity,” accusing them of indulging in what he called “dirty politics.” The SP chief argued that the government’s action of erecting tin barricades around the museum was an attempt to hide from public view and conveyed their closed-mindedness.

The Lucknow Police, buttressed by instructions from the Lucknow Development Authority (LDA), have maintained that the restrictions were necessary due to ongoing construction and safety issues exacerbated by heavy rains. The LDA, in correspondence dated Thursday, cited security concerns as the primary reason for denying Mr. Yadav permission to visit the site, noting his Z+ security cover, which is second only to that of the Prime Minister.

In response, the BJP has defended its stance, with spokesperson Alok Awasthi asserting that the party holds all great leaders, including Jayaprakash Narayan, in high regard. However, he questioned whether Akhilesh Yadav possessed any qualities reminiscent of Narayan, suggesting that Yadav’s reign was marked by “anarchy” and “misgovernance.”

The controversy harks back to last year when Mr. Yadav reportedly had to scale a wall to pay tribute to Narayan, due to similar restrictions. The JP Museum, inaugurated by Yadav in 2016, saw its development stall after the BJP’s electoral victory in 2017, and there are claims by Yadav that the state government intends to sell the premises.

The Samajwadi Party, undeterred by the current restrictions, has vowed to continue its program to honor Jayaprakash Narayan. Despite not having formal permission, they performed the wreath-laying ceremony outside the museum’s premises, and Yadav affirmed that the socialist traditions will endure.