Akhilesh Yadav Denied Entry, Accuses BJP Tactics

Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav criticized the Uttar Pradesh government for blocking his visit to the Jai Prakash Narayan International Centre (JPNIC) in Lucknow on the freedom fighter's birth anniversary. He accused the BJP of using colonial era tactics. 

The site was barricaded, police were deployed, and Yadav was denied entry, as the Lucknow Development Authority (LDA) cited safety concerns due to ongoing construction and insect risks from rain. Yadav had previously scaled the gate last year to pay tribute. 

The BJP, through spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari accused Yadav of politicizing the issue and claimed that the Samajwadi Party had abandoned Jai Prakash Narayan's ideals particularly by allying with Congress. Bhandari suggested that Yadav could have paid his respects elsewhere instead of using the situation for political gain.