Akhilesh Yadav vs BJP over barricade at Lucknow's JP Narayan Centre

The BJP hit out at Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav's claim that tin sheets were installed in front of the JP Narayan Centre's main gate to prevent his entry to mark the birth anniversary of the socialist leader, calling it "childish".

In Short

• Akhilesh Yadav accuses BJP of barring entry to centre with tin sheets
• He went there yesterday night to mark birth anniversary of JP Narayan
• Lucknow development body cites safety concerns over Akhilesh Yadav's visit

A massive showdown erupted in Lucknow after Samajwadi Party workers were dragged and detained by police after party chief Akhilesh Yadav alleged the BJP government installed tin sheets in front of Jayaprakash Narayan International Centre's (JPNIC) gate to prevent his entry. Akhilesh Yadav visited the JPNIC on Thursday night to mark the birth anniversary of socialist leader Jayaprakash Narayan today.

The BJP hit back at Akhilesh Yadav, calling his action "childish" and taking a dig at the Samajwadi Party, calling it a "fused transformer".

Akhilesh Yadav and Samajwadi Party officers climbed on the barricades installed outside his home as they protested against the tin sheets' installation at the JPNIC gate. They waved the party flags and held posters of Jayaprakash Narayan. Akhilesh Yadav also garlanded a statue of Jayaprakash Narayan, fondly called JP, outside his home amid tight security.

Urging Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, a product of the JP movement, to withdraw his party, JD(U)'s support to the NDA government at the Centre, Akhilesh Yadav said, "Many of the socialists are in the government and helping the government to continue. Nitish Kumar emerged from his (Jai Prakash Narayan) movement. This is a chance for Nitish Kumar to withdraw support from the government, which is not allowing the socialists to pay tribute to Jai Prakash Narayan on his birth anniversary."

During his visit to the JPNIC on Thursday night, Akhilesh Yadav accused the BJP government of hiding something by erecting the tin sheets before the centre's gate. "This JPNIC is the museum of socialists and has the statue of Jayaprakash Narayan. There are things inside on how we can understand socialism," he said.

"What is the government hiding by erecting these tin sheds? Is it possible that they are getting ready to sell it, or want to give it to someone?" he said.

In a video shared online, Akhilesh Yadav asked a painter to write 'Samajwadi Party Zindabad' (Long live Samajwadi Party) on the tin sheets. The party also posted a clip showing some workers erecting tin sheets before the JPNIC gate and accused the BJP of attacking democracy.

"The useless BJP government is constantly attacking democracy. "This anti-people government has insulted great men by ruining development work like JPNIC built in Lucknow. Socialists will not bow down to these dictators!" the party said on X.

It also termed the barricading the gate with tin sheets an instance of "dirty politics" of the BJP.

Later, Akhilesh Yadav, in a post on X, derided the BJP's rule as "ostentatious Amrit Kaal of freedom" and termed the barricading a symbol of the party's "closed thinking".

"The BJP holds ill-will and animosity towards every freedom fighter like Jayaprakash Narayan ji, who participated in the freedom struggle of the country. It is the guilt inside the BJP, whose members did not participate in the freedom struggle of the country, which does not allow them to pay tribute to the revolutionaries even on their birth anniversaries. Condemnable!" he tweeted.

Last year, Akhilesh Yadav had to climb over the gate of JPNIC to garland a statue of Jayaprakash Narayan located on the premises.

Amid the barricading row, the Lucknow Development Authority issued a notice on Akhilesh Yadav's planned visit to JPNIC on Friday on the birth anniversary of Jayaprakash Narayan. The notice stated that JPNIC is a construction site where construction material is spread haphazardly and warned of the 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 notice read.

LUCKNOW POLICE IMPOSE RESTRICTONS

Meanwhile, the Lucknow Police imposed traffic restrictions around the building on Friday. Barricades were installed outside the main gate of JPNIC and police personnel were deployed to prevent anyone from entering the premises.

To deal with protests from the Samajwadi Party, a vehicle has been deployed outside the JPNIC to release tear gas shells along with water cannon outside the gate.

A women's police force has been deployed along with a Rapid Action Force (RAF) contingent. The road leading up to the JPNIC has been closed with barricades.

Traffic movement on both roads leading to the Samajwadi Party chief's home has been restricted by barricades.

BJP SLAMS AKHILESH YADAV

Uttar Pradesh Minister Suresh Khanna took a dig at the Samajwadi Party, calling it a "fused transformer". "Samajwadi Party is a fused transformer. People will not like a fused transformer. The BJP is a good transformer. People are with us," he said.

BJP spokesperson Manish Shukla derided Akhilesh Yadav and said, "Akhilesh Yadav should answer why Samajwadi Party leaders are only active in the dark of night. His action is childish."

Akhilesh Yadav inaugurated the JPNIC when he was the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister. Work on the building, however, was stopped after the BJP was voted to power in the state in 2017.

The building, among other structures, houses the Jayaprakash Narayan Interpretation Centre, a museum.

(with inputs from agencies and Santosh Sharma)