Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Friday called on Janata Dal (United) leader and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to withdraw support from the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) at the Centre. Yadav’s demand came after authorities in Lucknow prevented him from garlanding the statue of socialist icon Jayaprakash Narayan on his birth anniversary, sparking a protest by SP workers.
“Nitish Kumar emerged from the movement led by Jai Prakash Narayan. This is an opportunity for him to withdraw support from a government that denies a socialist the chance to pay tribute to JP Narayan,” Yadav said.
The incident occurred late Thursday when Yadav attempted to visit the Jayaprakash Narayan International Centre (JPNIC), which was barricaded by local authorities. Yadav accused the government of conspiring to sell the museum dedicated to JP Narayan and questioned their commitment to protecting the Constitution.
In response, BJP leader Shazia Ilmi criticized Yadav’s actions, calling them “political stunts.” She urged him to end alliances with parties that opposed JP Narayan during the Emergency if he truly wanted to honor the socialist leader’s legacy.
The Lucknow Development Authority (LDA) cited security and safety concerns due to ongoing construction at the JPNIC as reasons for denying Yadav access. In a letter dated October 10, the LDA also mentioned that Yadav’s Z-Plus security status made it inappropriate for him to visit the site.
