Sat Oct 12 01:10:00 UTC 2024: ## Samajwadi Party Leader Akhilesh Yadav Denounces Government Blockade on Jayaprakash Narayan Birth Anniversary
**Lucknow, October 11, 2024:** Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Friday condemned the Uttar Pradesh government’s alleged attempts to prevent him from paying tributes to socialist leader Jayaprakash Narayan on his birth anniversary. Yadav had planned to visit the Jayaprakash Narayan International Centre (JPNIC) in Lucknow but was blocked by the authorities citing security concerns.
Despite the roadblocks, Mr. Yadav led a procession of SP workers to the JPNIC, where he garlanded a bust of Narayan mounted atop a vehicle. He accused the BJP government of creating hurdles for the SP and alleged that the JPNIC was being kept under wraps to facilitate its sale.
“This blockade by the BJP is not being done for the first time, it has blocked all good work. However, today, standing on the road, we are paying tribute to the ‘Jan-Nayak’. This government wants to stop us from garlanding but we have done it here on the road itself,” Yadav told the gathering.
Mr. Yadav also appealed to Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to withdraw his party’s support to the NDA, stating that the BJP-led government in Uttar Pradesh was obstructing the remembrance of Jayaprakash Narayan.
The LDA had earlier stated that Yadav’s planned visit to the JPNIC was “not advisable” due to ongoing construction work and security concerns. This, however, was refuted by the SP who claimed that the government’s actions were politically motivated.
The SP chief alleged that the BJP was obstructing the path of harmony, peace, and development. “The BJP has always been against freedom fighters and the freedom movement. They have learnt from the colonial powers and supported them secretly,” he said.
Several other SP leaders, including Shivpal Singh Yadav, also condemned the government’s actions, accusing them of trying to barricade democracy.
The incident marks the latest clash between the Samajwadi Party and the BJP in Uttar Pradesh. It also highlights the ongoing tensions between the two parties in the lead-up to the upcoming elections.
First Piper 