Akhilesh Yadav (X/yadavakhilesh)
Akhilesh Yadav JP Narayan Museum: The Jayaprakash Narayan International Centre (JPNIC) in Uttar Pradesh's capital, which houses a museum dedicated to socialist leader Jayaprakash Narayan, has sparked fresh political controversy between Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav and the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). On Thursday night, the entrances to the museum were barricaded with tin sheets, leading to a strong reaction from Yadav, who had planned to garland a statue of JP Narayan on his birth anniversary.
On Thursday evening, tin sheet barricades were placed at the JPNIC’s entrances, which were reinforced by police officers the following morning. This move comes in the lead-up to Akhilesh Yadav’s planned tribute to JP Narayan at the museum. Yadav shared videos showing police barriers outside his private residence as well, accusing the BJP of attempting to obstruct his visit to the memorial.
"Whether it is the BJP or their government, every action they take is a symbol of negativity. Barricades have been placed around our private residence to prevent us from paying tribute to Jayaprakash Narayanji on his birth anniversary," Yadav said.
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
- भाजपा ने श्रद्धांजलि… pic.twitter.com/oqAO6g8Qu8
In response, the BJP’s UP spokesperson Alok Awasthi asserted that the party respects all great leaders, including Jayaprakash Narayan. He criticized Yadav, saying, "Mr. Akhilesh Yadav, do you possess even one quality of Jayaprakash Narayan? You live a life of luxury. During your tenure, anarchy, hooliganism, misgovernance, and corruption thrived."
Awasthi further pointed out that Yadav’s actions were contrary to the ideologies of JP Narayan and Ram Manohar Lohia, key figures in India’s socialist movement.
भारतीय जनता पार्टी सभी महापुरुषों का आदर और सम्मान करती है।
— Alok Awasthi आलोक अवस्थी (@aalok_aawasthii) October 11, 2024
जयप्रकाश नारायण जी ने कुशासन , अराजकता और भ्रष्टाचार के विरुद्ध आंदोलन चलाया था । वे सादगी के प्रतीक थे ।
क्या श्रीमान अखिलेश यादव जी आपमें एक भी गुण है जय प्रकाश नारायण जी के ?
आप लग्ज़री लाइफ़ इंजॉय करते हैं ,… https://t.co/rio1lTBJKh
Denied entry to the JPNIC, Akhilesh Yadav garlanded a bust of JP Narayan mounted on a vehicle at his residence. Sharing photos on social media, Yadav declared, "Socialists are not afraid of dictatorship!" He also called on Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, an ally of the BJP, to reconsider his alliance with the party following this incident. Nitish Kumar, a key figure in JP Narayan’s movement during the 1970s, was urged by Yadav to cut ties with the BJP over the ongoing controversy at the JPNIC.
तानाशाही से नहीं डरते हैं समाजवादी !
— Samajwadi Party (@samajwadiparty) October 11, 2024
माननीय राष्ट्रीय अध्यक्ष श्री अखिलेश यादव जी ने स्व. जय प्रकाश नारायण जी की जयंती पर उनकी प्रतिमा पर माल्यार्पण कर श्रद्धासुमन अर्पित किए।
लोकनायक जय प्रकाश नारायण जी अमर रहें, समाजवाद जिंदाबाद ! pic.twitter.com/nN57OJQ7Ny
The row began Thursday night after Yadav was denied permission to visit the JPNIC due to "ongoing construction work and the possibility of insects due to rain." Furious at the barricades, Yadav lashed out at the BJP. "What does the government want to hide by blocking the gate with tin sheets? This museum was built to honor a great man, a socialist thinker. Why is the government afraid?" he asked, implying that the BJP was trying to stifle JP Narayan’s ideology.
This is not the first time Yadav has been blocked from visiting the site. Last year, after being refused entry, he jumped over a wall to garland the statue, declaring, "Every year on this day, socialists gather here to pay tribute to this great leader who championed total revolution and never bowed before the government."
ये है भाजपा राज में आज़ादी का दिखावटी अमृतकाल
— Akhilesh Yadav (@yadavakhilesh) October 10, 2024
श्रद्धांजलि न दे पाए जनता इसलिए उठा दी गयी दीवार
भाजपा ने जो रास्ता बंद किया है, वो उनकी बंद सोच का प्रतीक है।
भाजपा जय प्रकाश नारायण जी जैसे हर उस स्वतंत्रता सेनानी के लिए अपने मन में दुर्भावना और दुराव रखती है, जिसने भी देश की… pic.twitter.com/kYaHiX1B1n
The JPNIC was inaugurated by Akhilesh Yadav in 2016 when he was Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh. However, construction was halted after the BJP came to power in the 2017 state elections. Yadav alleged Thursday night that the BJP's delay in completing the project was intentional and hinted at plans to sell off the structure. "The program to garland the statue will continue," Yadav vowed, determined to pay tribute despite the restrictions.
The Lucknow Development Authority (LDA), responsible for maintaining the JPNIC, defended its decision to block Yadav’s visit. In a letter responding to his office’s written request, the LDA cited safety concerns, stating that ongoing construction and the rainy season had increased the risk of accidents and insect-related issues. Lucknow Police also denied Yadav permission to visit the site, citing security concerns linked to his Z+ security status, the highest protection level, only surpassed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
In a video shared by the SP on X (formerly Twitter), workers were seen placing tin sheets at the JPNIC entrance, prompting the party to accuse the BJP of "continuously attacking democracy." "This is the dirty politics of the BJP. They have disrespected great men and halted important development work like the JPNIC," the party's message read.
किसी को नमन करने या श्रद्धांजलि देने से रोकना सुसभ्य लोगों की निशानी नहीं। pic.twitter.com/4Co28qyahN
— Akhilesh Yadav (@yadavakhilesh) October 10, 2024
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