Ahead of Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav’s visit to the Jai Prakash Narayan International Centre (JPNIC) in Gomti Nagar on Friday, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesperson Pratul Shah Deo accused Yadav of playing “dirty politics” in the name of the socialist leader.
“Jai Prakash Narayan preached integrity and values. Akhilesh Yadav should stop playing his dirty politics,” said Deo, in a statement targeting the SP leader. This comes as tensions rose between the two parties over access to the JPNIC on the birth anniversary of the revered freedom fighter.
In response to the denial of permission for Yadav to enter the JPNIC, Samajwadi Party workers protested outside his residence. Visuals emerged of party members climbing over barricades set up by the police. One worker was seen tying himself in chains, staging a symbolic protest against the restrictions.
Akhilesh Yadav had earlier criticized the Uttar Pradesh government for blocking access to the JPNIC, claiming it was an attempt to prevent him from paying homage to Jai Prakash Narayan. “They have blocked the main gate of the JPNIC to stop me from entering,” Yadav said.
Akhilesh Yadav, in a series of posts on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), accused the ruling BJP of obstructing tributes to Jai Prakash Narayan and engaging in “negative” actions. He alleged that barricades had been placed outside his private residence to stop SP members from garlanding the socialist leader’s statue.
“The BJP’s every action symbolizes negativity,” Yadav wrote. “They have blocked the way for paying homage, as well as numerous other progressive causes like social justice, farmers’ rights, and youth development.”
In a broader attack, Yadav accused the BJP of being opposed to freedom fighters and the independence movement. “The BJP has always been against freedom fighters and the freedom movement. They learned how to block the path by living with colonial powers and secretly supporting them,” Yadav posted on X.
He concluded by claiming that public sentiment was increasingly turning against the BJP, writing, “Everyone says today, we don’t want BJP.”
In response to Yadav’s accusations, BJP spokesperson Pratul Shah Deo called the SP chief’s actions politically motivated. “Akhilesh Yadav is trying to exploit the situation for political gain. He could have paid tribute elsewhere if his intentions were genuine,” said Deo.
With both parties trading barbs, the incident has heightened political tensions as both continue to spar over Jai Prakash Narayan’s legacy.
