The Jai Prakash Narayan International Centre (JPNIC) in Lucknow has been sealed off, with police forces deployed ahead of Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav's planned visit.
This development came as Yadav was scheduled to pay tribute to Jayaprakash Narayan on the freedom fighter's birth anniversary. However, the Lucknow Development Authority (LDA) denied permission for the visit, citing security concerns.
On Thursday evening, Akhilesh Yadav arrived at the JPNIC after receiving a letter from the LDA, which stated that the site was a construction zone, with scattered building materials and possible insect infestations due to recent rains.
The authority argued that these factors made it unsafe for Yadav, who has Z-plus security, to garland the statue of Jayaprakash Narayan. Despite these claims, Yadav criticised the Uttar Pradesh government for blocking access to the site by erecting tin sheets around the entrance. He expressed frustration, questioning why the government was preventing them from paying respects to such an important figure in Indian history.
Yadav noted that this was not the first time the Samajwadi Party had gathered at the JPNIC to honour Jayaprakash Narayan. He accused the government of hiding something and suggested that their actions reflected their desire to undermine a significant historical site.
According to Yadav, the structure, which is supposed to honour a freedom fighter, appeared to be neglected and potentially sold off, casting doubt on the government's intentions for the centre.
In his criticism, Yadav extended his remarks to the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), accusing them of harbouring animosity toward freedom fighters like Jayaprakash Narayan.
In a statement shared on social media, Yadav condemned the BJP for blocking access to the site and claimed that their actions were symbolic of a "closed-minded" approach to historical figures who fought for India’s freedom. He linked these efforts to the broader political agenda of the BJP, accusing them of rewriting history to diminish the contributions of revolutionary leaders like Narayan.
The Samajwadi Party also released a video on social media showing workers installing tin sheets in front of the JPNIC entrance. The video was shared with a message that criticised the BJP for their “continuous attack on democracy.”
The SP argued that the government’s actions were an insult not only to the memory of Jayaprakash Narayan but also to the development work tied to the construction of the JPNIC in Lucknow. The party accused the BJP of engaging in "dirty politics" and suppressing efforts to honour great figures from India’s freedom struggle.
Akhilesh Yadav further expressed his anger by accusing the government of using the situation as a form of political obstruction. He emphasised that preventing the tribute on the birth anniversary of Jayaprakash Narayan was an attack on democracy itself.
In his view, the BJP's refusal to allow access to the site revealed their insecurity and discomfort with honouring historical figures who opposed Congress rule during pivotal moments in India’s political history.
Jayaprakash Narayan holds an iconic place in India’s political landscape for leading a nationwide movement against the Congress government during the Emergency of the 1970s.
He was instrumental in uniting opposition parties in a coalition that eventually ousted then-Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. Known for his call for "Sampoorna Kranti," or total revolution, Narayan’s efforts have left a lasting impact on Indian democracy.
The controversy surrounding JPNIC and the actions of the Uttar Pradesh government has created a political storm, with the opposition party accusing the ruling BJP of undermining democracy and stifling historical memory.
The incident has sparked widespread debate, with supporters of the Samajwadi Party echoing Yadav’s claims that the government's actions are part of a broader effort to erase or distort India’s revolutionary past.
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