Lucknow, Oct 11: Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav on Sunday said BJP people were worse than the British after the administration allegedly beefed up security at the Jayaprakash Narayan International Centre (JPNIC) in Lucknow ahead of the socialist leader’s 115th birth anniversary.
“Jayaprakash Narayan, who fought for the freedom movement, has today been virtually imprisoned under BJP rule,” SP chief Akhilesh Yadav.
“Even the most ruthless dictators in the world probably never imposed such a restriction on paying homage to a great soul on the occasion of his birth anniversary,” Yadav said in a post on X in Hindi.
He also said that the BJP people are worse than the British.
The X post by Akhilesh Yadav came hours after the administration stepped up security at the centre.
SP chief may visit the centre to pay floral tributes at Narayan’s statue located inside the premises.
Heavy barricading has been put up outside the JPNIC entrance, while tall tin sheets have been installed across its gates, completely blocking its view from outside.
According to official sources, senior police officers have been asked to ensure adequate security arrangements to maintain law and order.
Similar restrictions had led to dramatic scenes in the past.
On October 11, 2023, Akhilesh Yadav scaled the gates of JPNIC after being denied entry and paid floral tributes to the socialist leader. The administration cited construction work and safety concerns for restricting access.
Built in the memory of Jayaprakash Narayan, JPNIC was inaugurated in 2016 by Yadav, the then-Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh.
The complex has since become a point of political friction between the Samajwadi Party and the BJP, particularly over access to the premises during events commemorating the socialist leader.
In August, the UP Cabinet approved a 30-year lease arrangement with a consortium of private firms for operating and maintaining the complex.
Under the arrangement, the consortium will pay an annual lease rent, along with an upfront premium of Rs 10.11 crore and a performance guarantee of Rs 25 crore.
It will also bear the cost of completing pending construction work and undertaking repairs.
Ownership of the land and assets will remain with the Land Development Authority.
Lucknow Police have also set up barricades outside Akhilesh Yadav’s residence to apparently prevent him from visiting the JPNIC building.
Police have deployed heavy barricading outside both the JPNIC complex and his residence.
Countering Yadav, UP minister and Suheldev Bhartiya Samaj Party chief Om Prakash Rajbhar hinted at financial irregularities during the development of the centre under the SP leader’s tenure as chief minister and sought a reply in a post on X.
“Tell us, out of those Rs 865 crore, how much ended up in your pocket? Why did you keep yourself, Dimple ji, Dharmendra ji, and the Saifai family in the JPNIC management committee? Why did you keep your family involved in running a building built with public money?” Rajbhar asked in the post in Hindi.
