Political Tensions Surround JP Birth Anniversary in Uttar Pradesh

Political tensions are escalating in Uttar Pradesh over the birth anniversary of Jayaprakash Narayan, with Akhilesh Yadav, the chief of the Samajwadi Party (SP), accusing the state government of preventing him from paying homage at the statue of the celebrated socialist leader. Yadav has suggested that the government is concealing something at the Jayaprakash Narayan International Center (JPNIC) and plans to visit the center again despite previous hindrances.

The controversy began when Yadav attempted to visit the JPNIC in Lucknow on Thursday night, ahead of Narayan’s birth anniversary on October 11. Due to the presence of a tin shed, Yadav was unable to reach the statue. Expressing his frustration, he accused the Uttar Pradesh government of blocking the main entrance with heavy barricading.

“I was prevented from entering because the main gate was covered with tin sheets,” Yadav stated, criticizing the administration’s actions. Subsequently, a poster was placed by SP at the JPNIC gate featuring a tribute to Jayaprakash Narayan. The SP leader questioned the government’s motives, suggesting it might be planning to sell the site.

The situation prompted a sharp reaction from the Samajwadi Party, with Yadav accusing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government of disrespecting freedom fighters like Jayaprakash Narayan due to internal guilt over BJP members’ absence from the country’s independence struggle. He described the restricted access as an attack on democracy.

In response to the situation, the Lucknow Development Authority issued a statement explaining that JPNIC is under construction, with scattered construction materials posing safety risks. The notice asserted that allowing Yadav, who has Z-plus security, to enter would be unsafe.

Amid these tensions, traffic restrictions were implemented around the JPNIC, and security was tightened to prevent Yadav and his supporters from accessing the site. The issue has stirred political debate, with Yadav criticizing the BJP for its “pretentious and narrow-minded” approach towards democracy.

The complex, inaugurated by Akhilesh Yadav in 2016 during his tenure as the Chief Minister, hosts several structures including a museum dedicated to Jayaprakash Narayan. However, construction halted after the BJP came to power in 2017, amid allegations of corruption linked to JPNIC’s construction process.