Fri Oct 11 13:24:27 UTC 2024: ## Samajwadi Party Leader Calls for JD(U) Withdrawal from NDA After Being Blocked from Garlanding JP Statue

**Lucknow, India** – Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav has called on Janata Dal (United) leader and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to withdraw his party’s support from the Narendra Modi-led government. This call came after Yadav was prevented from garlanding the statue of Jai Prakash Narayan, a socialist icon, on his birth anniversary.

Yadav, who was blocked from accessing the statue in Lucknow on Thursday, accused the BJP government of disrespecting JP’s legacy and his socialist ideals. He pointed out that the government is currently trying to sell off the museum dedicated to JP, further highlighting their disregard for his contributions.

“We had to pay our respects on the road after being denied access to the statue,” Yadav said, criticizing the government’s actions. “Nitish Kumar, who rose from the movement led by Jai Prakash Narayan, should take this opportunity to withdraw support from a government that is preventing socialists from paying tribute to their icon.”

The Lucknow Development Authority (LDA) stated that the site was under construction and deemed unsuitable for Yadav’s visit due to safety concerns. However, Yadav’s party members held protests, alleging that the government was deliberately obstructing the tribute.

BJP leader Shazia Ilmi countered Yadav’s claims, accusing him of engaging in a political stunt. She suggested that if Yadav truly wanted to honor JP’s legacy, he should end alliances with parties that JP had opposed during the Emergency.

This incident has sparked political tensions, with Yadav’s protests highlighting the larger issue of respect for socialist icons and the political alignments surrounding the Modi government. Whether Nitish Kumar will heed Yadav’s call remains to be seen, but the incident is likely to further fuel political discourse in the lead-up to the upcoming general elections.

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