Akhilesh Yadav clashes with BJP over paying tribute to JP Narayan
Akhilesh Yadav BJP conflict over JP Narayan tribute: On Thursday night, entrances to the JPNIC were sealed with tin sheets, which were subsequently reinforced by police the following morning. This maneuver came just before Yadav's planned tribute to Narayan at the museum.
Akhilesh Yadav BJP conflict over JP Narayan tribute: A political storm has erupted between Akhilesh Yadav, the chief of the Samajwadi Party (SP), and the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over the tribute to socialist leader Jayaprakash Narayan. This controversy ignited after barricades were placed around the Jayaprakash Narayan International Centre (JPNIC) in Uttar Pradesh’s capital, preventing Yadav from honoring Narayan on his birth anniversary.
Barricades block access to JPNIC
On Thursday night, entrances to the JPNIC were sealed with tin sheets, which were subsequently reinforced by police the following morning. This maneuver came just before Yadav's planned tribute to Narayan at the museum. The SP leader expressed his outrage, sharing videos showing police barricades outside his private residence, claiming that the BJP aimed to obstruct his homage 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 stated.
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
BJP's response to accusations
In a rebuttal, Alok Awasthi, a spokesperson for the BJP in Uttar Pradesh, asserted that the party honors all significant leaders, including Jayaprakash Narayan. He criticized Yadav, questioning, "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 remarked that Yadav's actions contradicted the principles championed by Narayan and Ram Manohar Lohia, two pivotal figures in India’s socialist movement.
Yadav pays tribute at home
After being denied access to the JPNIC, Akhilesh Yadav paid tribute to Narayan by garlanding a bust mounted on a vehicle outside his home. Sharing photos on social media, he declared, "Socialists are not afraid of dictatorship!" He also urged Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, a BJP ally, to reconsider his association with the party in light of this incident. Kumar, who played a significant role in Narayan's movement during the 1970s, was called upon to sever ties with the BJP due to the ongoing controversy.
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
Controversy over Narayan's birth anniversary
The conflict escalated when Yadav was denied permission to visit the JPNIC due to "ongoing construction work and the possibility of insects due to rain." Infuriated by the barricades, Yadav questioned, "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?" His comments insinuated that the BJP was trying to suppress Narayan's ideology.
This incident is not an isolated event; last year, Yadav faced similar restrictions and famously jumped over a wall to garland the statue, asserting, "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."
Construction delays at JPNIC
The JPNIC, inaugurated by Yadav in 2016 during his tenure as Chief Minister, has seen halted construction since the BJP came to power in 2017. Yadav alleged that the BJP's delays were intentional and hinted at plans to sell the structure. "The program to garland the statue will continue," he vowed, determined to honor Narayan despite the obstacles.
Lucknow Development Authority responds
The Lucknow Development Authority (LDA), responsible for the JPNIC's maintenance, defended its decision to block Yadav's visit. In a letter responding to his request, the LDA cited safety concerns due to ongoing construction and increased risks during the rainy season. Lucknow Police also denied Yadav permission to visit the site, citing security concerns associated with his Z+ security status, the highest level of protection, second only to 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. The SP accused the BJP of "continuously attacking democracy," stating, "This is the dirty politics of the BJP. They have disrespected great men and halted important development work like the JPNIC."
