Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav was blocked by authorities from visiting the Jai Prakash Narayan International Centre (JPNIC) in Gomti Nagar, Lucknow, on Friday, leading to protests by his party members. Yadav, who intended to garland a statue of socialist leader Jai Prakash Narayan on his birth anniversary, was stopped due to alleged security concerns. In response, Yadav garlanded a bust of Narayan mounted on a vehicle outside his residence, surrounded by hundreds of party workers.
Speaking to the media, Yadav condemned the Uttar Pradesh government’s decision to block his visit, calling it an attempt to suppress the “Samajwadis” from paying tribute to a prominent socialist figure. He criticized the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), accusing them of undermining the legacy of Jai Prakash Narayan. “This government wants to stop us from garlanding, but we did it here on the road itself,” he said.
Akhilesh further appealed to Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, urging him to reconsider his support for the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), emphasizing that the BJP government was preventing socialists from honoring Narayan. “This is a chance for Nitish Kumar to withdraw support from the NDA government, which is not allowing us to pay tribute to Jai Prakash Narayan on his birth anniversary,” he stated.
Earlier, Yadav had expressed frustration with the police barricades and heavy security presence near his residence, suggesting that the BJP’s actions were driven by “negativity.” His party had notified JPNIC authorities and the police of his scheduled visit to the museum days prior, yet the area remained cordoned off.
The Samajwadi Party has a long tradition of celebrating Jai Prakash Narayan’s birth anniversary. Yadav alleged that the BJP was conspiring to sell the museum built in Narayan’s honor, accusing the government of covering the Centre with tin shades to hide their intentions. “What is the government hiding by erecting these tin sheds? Is it possible they are getting ready to sell it?” he asked.
Protests intensified as Samajwadi Party workers gathered outside Yadav’s residence, with one protester dramatically chaining himself in front of the gates. Last year, Yadav had to climb over the JPNIC gate to garland Narayan’s statue after facing a similar blockade.
