Jai Prakash Narayan International Centre (JPNIC) is again in the headlines like the last year. The event is the same, circumstances are the same and so is the political blame game against each other.

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav has hit out the BJP and Uttar Pradesh government for denying him permission to visit JPNIC to garland Lok Nayak Jayaprakash Narayan’s statue on his birth anniversary.

Reportedly, Lucknow Development Authority had denied Akhilesh Yadav to visit JPNIC, which has a museum preserving the memories socialist leader Jayaprakash Narayan. The LDA had refused the visit citing security reasons and the ongoing construction work.

The matter escalated when Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, accused that entrance of JPNIC was barricaded using tin sheets last night; and later it was sealed, barricaded and the police force deployed ahead of his visit.

He wrote on his X, “Whether it is the BJP people or their government, their every action is a symbol of negativity. To prevent the Samajwadi people from garlanding the statue of ‘Jai Prakash Narayan Ji’ on his birth anniversary like last time, barricades have been put up around our private residence to stop them.” He went on to say that the BJP has always been against the freedom fighters and the freedom movement. They have learnt how to block the path by living with the colonial powers and supporting them secretly.

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।

– भाजपा ने श्रद्धांजलि… pic.twitter.com/oqAO6g8Qu8

— Akhilesh Yadav (@yadavakhilesh) October 11, 2024

Following this, Samajwadi Party workers gathered in large number outside the residence of Akhilesh Yadav and protested against the BJP. The workers even climbed over the barricades put up outside Akhilesh’s residence. Several Samajwadi Party leaders like Awadhesh Prasad, Mata Prasad Pandey criticized the BJP and UP government.

Akhilesh Yadav came down heavily on the UP government and said that the government is conspiring to sell this museum. He asked them what is that they are trying to hide?

Speaking to reporters, he said, “We celebrate Jai Prakash Narayan’s birth anniversary but his government is trying to stop us from garlanding him, so we did it on the road. They are conspiring to sell this museum and hence they have covered JPNIC. Just think that the government which is trying to sell the museum built to respect Jai Prakash Narayan, how you can expect that they will protect the Constitution? This government is dumb, deaf and blind. Today is Ramnavami, and look what kind of Adharm they are committing today. If it wouldn’t have been festival today, these barricades couldn’t have stopped Samajwadis.”

On denial of visit to JPNIC, Akhilesh Yadav said, “If there is any security concern, they should have allowed me with the security that is being put here to stop me. BJP has a line of destruction in its hands. Destructive expressions can be seen on their faces. They are destructive people.”

#WATCH | Lucknow, UP | Samajwadi Party Chief Akhilesh Yadav says, "If there is any security concern, they should have allowed me with the security that is being put here to stop me… BJP has a line of destruction in its hands. Destructive expressions can be seen on their faces.… pic.twitter.com/B5iLpgzfBR

— ANI (@ANI) October 11, 2024

Akhilesh also criticised UP CM Yogi Adityanath and said, “How can you expect from the CM that he will respect the great personalities? What does he know about Jai Prakash Narayan and his contribution? If he had known about his contribution, the force that is being deployed here to stop us, the same force would have facilitated us to pay tribute – this force shouldn’t have been deployed on Navratri, and he would have allowed us to celebrate the festival as he is celebrating.”

Several BJP leaders have hit back at allegations put up by Akhilesh Yadav. Speaking to ANI, UP BJP President Bhupendra Chaudhary said, Samajwadi Party tries to break rules and take law & order in their hands. He added that it has become a culture of Samajwadi Party. Over the refusal of his visit by LDA, Chaudhary said, “Due to security reasons, the Lucknow Development Authority has sealed JPNIC. Akhilesh Yadav is a big leader, he was the CM of the UP and he is trying this just to get media attention, it is their political decision and the people of the state and the country know this.”

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