Lucknow: Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav on Thursday attacked the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over the Jayaprakash Narayan International Centre (JPNIC) controversy, accusing the party of having a “stagnant thinking” that is opposed to modernity and progress.
Yadav made the remarks through a social media post while sharing a video related to the JPNIC, a project associated with the legacy of socialist leader Jayaprakash Narayan. He alleged that the BJP and its supporters were unable to respect the aspirations of present and future generations.
The SP chief’s comments came amid a continuing political dispute between the BJP and the Samajwadi Party over the management and future of the JPNIC in Lucknow. The issue has become a point of confrontation between the two parties in Uttar Pradesh.
Yadav had earlier criticised decisions related to the JPNIC, alleging that the BJP government was undermining the importance of the centre and the legacy of Jayaprakash Narayan. He has maintained that the project represents the ideals associated with the socialist leader.
The BJP, however, has raised questions over the project’s execution during the previous SP government. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had earlier alleged irregularities in the JPNIC project and questioned the expenditure and management of the facility.
According to the BJP’s allegations, the project, initially approved at a lower estimated cost, saw expenditure increase substantially while remaining incomplete. The SP has rejected these allegations and accused the BJP government of targeting the legacy associated with Jayaprakash Narayan.
The political exchange comes ahead of the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, with both BJP and SP intensifying their attacks on each other over issues linked to governance, public projects and ideological differences.
The JPNIC dispute remains unresolved, with both parties presenting different views on the project’s significance, management and future
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
