In a dramatic turn of events, the Jai Prakash Narayan International Centre (JPNIC) in Lucknow has been sealed ahead of a planned visit by Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav to pay tribute to the socialist leader on his birth anniversary. The move has sparked intense political tensions and accusations of 'dirty politics' from the Samajwadi Party.
1. Background of the JPNIC
The JPNIC was inaugurated in 2016 during Akhilesh Yadav's tenure as the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh. The centre is a significant cultural and historical landmark, housing the Jayaprakash Narayan Interpretation Centre, a museum dedicated to the life and ideology of Jai Prakash Narayan. However, work on the building was halted after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) came to power in 2017.
Last year, Akhilesh Yadav faced a similar situation when he was denied permission to garland a statue of Jai Prakash Narayan. In response, he had to climb over the gate to pay his respects, highlighting the ongoing political tensions between the Samajwadi Party and the Yogi Adityanath government.
2. The Barricading Incident
On Thursday evening, Akhilesh Yadav announced his intention to visit JPNIC to pay tribute to Jai Prakash Narayan. However, upon reaching the centre, he found that the gates had been barricaded with large pieces of tin sheets. This move was condemned by the Samajwadi Party as an instance of 'dirty politics' by the BJP government.
The Samajwadi Party shared a video on social media showing workers erecting the tin sheets before the main gate of JPNIC. The party termed this action as an attempt to prevent people from paying homage to a great personality and accused the government of ruining development work like JPNIC.
Akhilesh Yadav expressed his disappointment through a tweet, stating, 'Preventing someone from bowing or paying homage is not a sign of civilized people.' He also questioned why the government was trying to stop people from paying tribute to a great personality and hinted at the possibility of the government planning to sell off the centre if they were unable to run it.
3. Reactions and Statements
The Samajwadi Party spokesperson, Ameeque Jamei, stated that Akhilesh Yadav and SP workers would pay tributes to Jai Prakash Narayan at any cost. He criticized the government for not taking care of the building and allowing it to deteriorate, calling it a 'jungle' inside.
DCP (central) Raveena Tyagi clarified that this action was not taken by the Lucknow police but by some other authorities. Akhilesh Yadav reached JPNIC late on Thursday night and expressed his determination to find a way to pay his respects in the morning.
The incident has highlighted ongoing political tensions between the Samajwadi Party and the Yogi Adityanath government in Uttar Pradesh. It remains to be seen how this situation will be resolved and what implications it may have for future political events in the state.
4. Conclusion
The sealing of JPNIC ahead of Akhilesh Yadav's visit has brought attention to the deteriorating state of cultural and historical landmarks under the current administration. The Samajwadi Party's accusations of 'dirty politics' by the BJP government have further escalated tensions, making it clear that this issue is not just about paying tribute but also about political power and control.
