Fri Oct 11 09:10:00 UTC 2024: ## UP Government’s Bizarre Attempt to Block Akhilesh Yadav From Paying Tribute to Jayaprakash Narayan Sparks Outrage

**Lucknow:** The birth anniversary of Loknayak Jayaprakash Narayan (JP) has become a political spectacle in Lucknow for the past two years, with the Uttar Pradesh government’s actions inadvertently turning former Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav into a hero. This year, the government went to extreme lengths, barricading the Jayaprakash Narayan International Centre (JPNIC) with tin sheets to prevent Yadav from paying his respects at JP’s statue. This move only fueled the controversy, with Yadav’s videos and the subsequent protests gaining national attention.

The UP government’s actions have been widely ridiculed, with even BJP supporters questioning the rationale behind such a blatant move. The government’s justification – that the JPNIC is incomplete and could pose a safety hazard due to rain and wildlife – has been dismissed as a flimsy excuse by the public.

Adding fuel to the fire is the fact that the JPNIC, a project initiated during Akhilesh Yadav’s tenure, has remained stalled for years under the Yogi Adityanath government. While the government claims to be investigating alleged irregularities, the project lies abandoned, a testament to the government’s inaction. This raises questions about the government’s true intentions and the fate of the project.

The public is left wondering what harm could come from Yadav paying tribute to a revered leader like JP. The incident has brought into sharp focus the government’s apparent obsession with preventing Yadav from receiving any positive publicity, even at the cost of public perception and national ridicule.

This latest controversy further highlights the growing political divide in UP and the BJP government’s seeming inability to address issues related to development and governance.

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