Akhilesh Yadav Slams BJP’s ‘Sinister Plot’ to Dismantle Jayaprakash Narayan Centre
The controversy continues to fuel debates over cultural and political legacies in Uttar Pradesh
Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav launched a scathing attack on the Yogi Adityanath-led BJP government, accusing it of a deliberate strategy to dismantle the Jayaprakash Narayan International Centre (JPNIC) society and sell off the iconic project. Speaking to reporters, Yadav claimed the BJP’s decision to dissolve the JPNIC society and transfer its management to the Lucknow Development Authority (LDA) is a calculated move to commercialize a site dedicated to socialist icon Jayaprakash Narayan.
“Jayaprakash ji was a towering figure who guided the nation from independence to safeguarding democracy,” Yadav said. “This centre, a museum in his memory, was meant to inspire future generations. The BJP neglected it, let it deteriorate, and now hands it to the LDA, known for building fish markets and pigeon houses, not institutions of legacy.” He questioned the LDA’s capability, sarcastically remarking, “Will LDA do this work? Tell me.”
Yadav alleged a “well-thought-out strategy” to dissolve the JPNIC society through a cabinet decision on July 3, 2025, and prepare the centre for sale. “If it must be sold, we Samajwadis are ready to buy it,” he declared, emphasizing the SP’s emotional and ideological connection to the project. “We won’t let it be ruined or exploited commercially.”
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The Uttar Pradesh Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, approved the dissolution of the JPNIC society, transferring its reins to the LDA. State Finance Minister Suresh Kumar Khanna stated that the LDA will oversee the project’s completion, operation, and maintenance, with Rs 821.74 crore previously disbursed treated as a 30-year loan to the LDA. The LDA is also authorized to involve private players in managing the centre.
Yadav recalled the JPNIC’s foundation laid by SP founder Mulayam Singh Yadav, attended by socialist luminaries like George Fernandes and Mohan Singh. “It was envisioned as a hub for socialists, showcasing JP’s struggle for democracy and the ‘Sampoorna Kranti’ (total revolution) that reshaped India’s political landscape,” he said. He took a jab at the BJP, questioning their electoral prospects in Bihar, where JP’s legacy holds sway, stating, “Those who ruined JPNIC, who will they ask for votes in Bihar?”
The JPNIC, inaugurated by Akhilesh Yadav in 2016 during his tenure as chief minister, has been stalled since the BJP came to power in 2017, with a corruption probe ordered. Yadav’s repeated attempts to pay tribute at the centre, including climbing its gates in 2023 and facing barricades in 2024, highlight ongoing tensions with the BJP.
Yadav’s remarks underscore a broader political clash, positioning the SP as defenders of socialist ideals against the BJP’s alleged attempts to erase them. The controversy continues to fuel debates over cultural and political legacies in Uttar Pradesh.
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