Akhilesh Yadav's Tribute to Jayaprakash Narayan at JPNIC in Lucknow Met with Barricades and Controversy

Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav visited the Jayaprakash Narayan International Centre (JPNIC) in Lucknow on Thursday evening to pay tribute to the party ideologue Jayaprakash Narayan on his birth anniversary. However, his visit was met with controversy as the gates of JPNIC were barricaded with tin sheets, preventing him and his supporters from entering the premises.

Akhilesh Yadav reached the JPNIC late on Thursday night, only to find the main gate barricaded with tin sheets. The Samajwadi Party chief accused the BJP of setting up these barricades to prevent him and his supporters from paying their respects to Narayan. This is not the first time such an incident has occurred; last year, Yadav had to climb over the gate to garland a statue of Narayan after being denied permission.

Yadav expressed his frustration and disappointment over the government's actions, stating that the barricades were an attempt to hide something. He questioned why the government was trying to stop people from paying tribute to a great personality like Narayan. The SP chief also hinted at the poor condition of JPNIC, suggesting that the government was not taking care of the cultural center.

The Samajwadi Party spokesperson Ameeque Jamei stated that Akhilesh Yadav and SP workers would pay their tributes to Narayan at any cost. He accused the government of not wanting people to see how the state government had ruined India's biggest cultural center. Jamei also mentioned that a jungle had grown inside JPNIC, and the building was being wasted due to lack of maintenance.

The Lucknow Development Authority (LDA) officials refused to comment on the issue, while DCP (central) Raveena Tyagi clarified that this action was not taken by the Lucknow police. The situation at JPNIC has raised questions about the government's intentions and its handling of cultural institutions in the city.

Akhilesh Yadav has been vocal about his plans to pay tribute to Narayan despite the obstacles. He tweeted about the barricading of JPNIC gates, calling it an uncivilized act. The SP chief has sought permission from the district administration for paying tribute but has yet to receive a response.

Background and Previous Incidents

This is not the first time Akhilesh Yadav has faced such challenges while trying to pay tribute to Jayaprakash Narayan. Last year, he had to jump over the gates after being denied permission to garland the statue of Narayan. The LDA officials had put up a lock at the gates ahead of his arrival, leading to a scuffle with security personnel and police officials.

The Samajwadi Party has been critical of the BJP-led government in Uttar Pradesh for its handling of cultural institutions like JPNIC. The party has accused the government of neglecting these centers and allowing them to deteriorate.

The controversy surrounding JPNIC has highlighted the political tensions between the Samajwadi Party and the BJP in Uttar Pradesh. As the birth anniversary of Jayaprakash Narayan is celebrated, the focus remains on the political implications of this incident and the future of cultural institutions in the state.

Conclusion

The barricading of JPNIC gates by the BJP has sparked a heated debate about political interference in cultural events and the maintenance of public institutions. As Akhilesh Yadav and his supporters continue to plan their tribute to Jayaprakash Narayan, the situation at JPNIC remains tense, reflecting broader political dynamics in Uttar Pradesh.

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