Huge Protests by SP Workers as UP Govt Seals JP Narayan Centre Ahead of Akhilesh Yadav's Visit

Lucknow: After Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav announced visiting the Jai Prakash Narayan International Centre (JPNIC) in Lucknow on Friday, October 11, to mark the Jayaprakash Narayan's birth anniversary, the Lucknow Development Authority (LDA)  sealed the building and said it is not suitable for the SP chief to visit the place currently, citing construction work. 

The LDA isued a letter in this regard, which read, ""JPNIC is a construction site where construction material is spread haphazardly and there is a possibility of many insects due to rain... SP chief Akhilesh Yadav has Z plus category security, due to which it is not safe and appropriate for him to garland the statue and visit JPNIC due to security reasons."

The Jayaprakash Narayan International Centre (JPNIC) in Uttar Pradesh's Lucknow houses a museum dedicated to the memory of the socialist leader and politician Jayaprakash Narayan.

Further, a heavy police force has been deployed and barricades were put up outside the JPNIC and Akhilesh Yadav 's residence, prompting several party workers to gather in large numbers to protest against the move.

Dramatic visuals have emerged from the spot wherein several party workers were seen climbing over barricades put up outside the residence of the party chief Akhilesh Yadav . As per sources, the main gate of the Jayaprakash Narayan International Centre has been barred behind tin sheets apparently to prevent entry of Akhilesh Yadav. 

This is Not Under Construction, This Will Be Sold: Akhilesh on Sealing of JPNIC

Critisising the govt's actions, Akhilesh Yadav alleged that govt wants to hide something by building this tiny boundary at the centre. He further alleged that no construction work is going on there nd that the building will be sold. 

He said, “The government wants to hide something by building this tin boundary. Why are they not letting us honour a great leader? This is not happening for the first time. Every year on Jayaprakash Narayan Jayanti, the workers and leader of SP used to gather and pay their respects to him. Why does the government want to hide? This is not under construction, this will be sold.” 

Taking to X, Yadav alleged that barricades were put up around his private residence to stop them from garlanding the statue of the iconic socialist leader and politician.

"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," Yadav tweeted in Hindi.

Reacting on the development, UP LoP & SP MLA Mata Prasad Pandey said, "They do not believe in democracy...Jayaprakash Narayan was a freedom fighter who was respected by every political party. That is why, on his birth anniversary today, we pay him last respects and garland his statue. He was stopped the last time too. But he jumped over the barricade and garlanded the statue. I don't know what was the issue if someone garlands a statue. Maybe they have done something there or are trying to sell it off and they stopped him so that it doesn't get revealed..."

BJP Hits Back

Meanwhile, BJP 's RP Singh slammed the Samajwadi Party amid the political tussle, questioning whether they are actually Jayaprakash Narayan's followers. He targeted the Akhilesh Yadav -led party for forming an alliance with the Congress which had imposed the Emergency in the country which was sharply opposed by Jayaprakash Narayan himself.

"We need to ask them, that they are going for Jayaprakash ji But are they truly following him? Jayaprakash ji voiced his protest against the emergency, Now, the same SP has collision with congress. There is construction work going on there, that is why they are not being allowed," RP Singh said.

The row erupted late last night after Yadav, who was denied the permission to visit the JPNIC due to "construction work and possibility of many insects due to rain",  tore into the BJP over barring the entrance. Last year as well, Yadav was not given permission to visit the site. The former UP Chief Minister jumped over a wall to garland the statue late last night.