Akhilesh slams Adityanath govt over Jayaprakash Narayan International Centre society dissolvement

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Saturday accused the BJP of devising a “well-thought-out strategy” of first “ending” the Jayaprakash Narayan International Centre (JPNIC) society through a cabinet decision, and then “preparing to sell” it.

Speaking to reporters here, Yadav said, “Jayaprakash ji was such a big name, who showed the path of struggle from independence to saving democracy and gave a new direction to the country. A museum dedicated to him and this building in his memory. The government did not run it first, ruined it, then after ruining it, they are giving it to Lucknow Development Authority (LDA).”

He went on to add: “You should go and see the work of LDA. See any market in Gomti Nagar that has been built by them. There is a pigeon house (‘kabootar khaanaa’). There is a fish market. You should go and see any of those places. LDA has its own work. Will LDA do this work? Tell me.”

The Uttar Pradesh Cabinet on Thursday approved a proposal to dissolve the society constituted for the JPNIC project.

The decision also entailed that its reins will be handed over to the LDA.
Sharpening his attack further, Yadav said, “This is a well-thought-out strategy to first end the society through a cabinet decision and then prepare to sell it. I repeat once again that if it has to be sold, then we ‘samajwadis’ (socialist people) are ready to take it.”

He added: “One day, we had said that we socialists can collect funds or do anything because we have an emotional ideological connection with it, so we don’t want it to be ruined or exploited commercially because if it is in the hands of the government, the government will prepare to sell it.”

Briefing reporters on Thursday, State Finance Minister Suresh Kumar Khanna said that it was decided by the cabinet to dissolve the previously constituted JPNIC Society and transfer the centre to the Lucknow Development Authority in its present form.

The LDA will now be responsible for the completion, operation and upkeep of the project,” he said.

According to the decision, a total of Rs 821.74 crore disbursed so far by the state for the JPNIC project will be treated as loan to the LDA, which it will repay over a period of 30 years, Khanna added.

The cabinet also authorised the LDA to formulate procedures and conditions for the completion of the project, and to manage its operations and maintenance through private players.

Yadav said that when Mulayam Singh Yadav had laid the foundation stone of JPNIC, all the important socialist leaders were present on the stage including George Fernandes and Mohan Singh.

“At that time, it was said that this would be a centre for socialists, where the new generation can come and see what a great struggle was. JP came out to save democracy, socialism and the country. The people of the whole country joined him and the result of this was that the movement of ‘sampoorn kraanti’ (total revolution) transformed (the country) and a new party was formed in Delhi,” he said.

“And the same people who ruined and destroyed the JPNIC, (should) now think from whom they will ask for votes in Bihar,” Yadav added.