Akhilesh Yadav jumps over locked gate to garland Jayprakash Narayan’s statue
Samajwadi Party workers created a ruckus amid a heavy police deployment demanding the authorities allow Yadav entry into Jayprakash Narayan International Centre on a bus
Opposition Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav on Wednesday hit out at the Uttar Pradesh government’s “dictatorship” after he was forced to jump over the locked gate of Lucknow’s Jayprakash Narayan International Centre (JPNIC) to garland Jayprakash Narayan’s statue on the socialist leader’s birth anniversary.
Yadav hit out at the Uttar Pradesh government’s “dictatorship”. (X)
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Yadav accused the state government of trying to stop him from garlanding the statue by locking the gate. He attacked the government over its undemocratic behaviour and said those with “iron will” cannot be stopped. “Samajwadis [socialists] will continue to struggle against the BJP [Bharatiya Janata Party] government’s autocracy.”
He questioned what was the point of democracy when obstacles were created for even garlanding a statue. “The BJP cannot block the SP.”
A furious Yadav jumped over the gate and garlanded the statue after SP workers unwrapped it from a tarpaulin sheet. Earlier, Yadav arrived at JPNIC on a bus. SP workers created a ruckus amid a heavy police deployment demanding the authorities allow Yadav entry on the bus.
SP leader Ashutosh Varma said the BJP was repeating the same mistake that Congress made in the 1970s when Narayan, popularly known as JP, led his Total Revolution Movement against then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.
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Officials insisted that JPNIC was closed due to some work and that a case could be registered for trespass.
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Officials insisted that JPNIC was closed due to some work and that a case could be registered for trespass.
Anupam Srivastava is a Special Correspondent with Hindustan Times, Lucknow, with over 26 years of experience in journalism. A widely travelled reporter, he is known for producing impactful exclusives, investigative reports, and in-depth analyses across environment, science, healthcare, women's issues, human-interest stories, civil aviation, surface and inland water transport, agriculture, urban and rural development, governance, public policy, politics, culture, music, and literature. Recognised for his meticulous research and evidence-based reporting, he has consistently highlighted issues that directly affect the lives of ordinary citizens, exposing governance gaps, policy failures, and environmental concerns while amplifying the voices of underserved communities. His reporting has influenced public discourse and contributed to administrative action and policy interventions, including the Uttar Pradesh government's decision to accord river status to the Kukrail instead of a drain after his reportage brought the issue into focus. His commitment to public-interest journalism has earned him prestigious awards for excellence in reporting on environment, science, literature, and culture. Combining investigative journalism, data-driven analysis, and compelling storytelling, Anupam Srivastava continues to produce journalism that informs, influences, and promotes accountability, firmly upholding the values of an independent and responsible press.
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